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Chapter 02 - Property Acquisition and Cost Recovery
2-1 © 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution
in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 2 Property Acquisition and Cost Recovery
SOLUTIONS MANUAL
Discussion Questions 1. [LO 1] Explain the reasoning why the tax laws require the cost of certain assets to be
capitalized and recovered over time rather than immediately expensed.
Assets with an expected life of more than one year must be capitalized and
recovered through depreciation, amortization, or depletion deductions—
depending on the type of underlying asset. The policy attempts to match the
revenues and expenses for these assets because the assets have a useful life of
more than one year.
2. [LO 1] Explain the differences and similarities between personal property, real
property, intangible property, and natural resources. Also, provide an example of each
type of asset.
Personal property, real property, and natural resources are all tangible
property than can be seen and touched. Natural resources are assets that occur
naturally (e.g. timber or coal). Real property is land and all property that is
attached to land (e.g. buildings). Personal property is all tangible property that
is not a natural resource or real property. Intangibles are all intellectual
property rights (e.g. patents and copyrights) and any other value not assigned
as a tangible asset during a purchase (e.g. goodwill). Each of these has an
expected useful life of more than one year.
Asset Type Examples
Personal property Automobiles, equipment, furniture, and machinery
Real property Land and items attached to land such as buildings
(warehouse, office building, and residential
dwellings)
Intangibles Start-up and organizational costs, copyrights,
patents, covenants not to compete and goodwill
Natural Resources Commodities such as oil, coal, copper, timber, and
gold
3. [LO 1] Explain the similarities and dissimilarities between depreciation, amortization,
and depletion. Describe the cost recovery method used for each of the four asset types
(personal property, real property, intangible property, and natural resources).
Chapter 02 - Property Acquisition and Cost Recovery
2-2 © 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution
in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
There are three types of cost recovery: depreciation, amortization, and
depletion. Each is similar in that they recover the cost basis of long-lived
assets. Depreciation for real property, amortization, and cost depletion are on
a straight-line basis. (Taxpayers may elect straight-line on tangible personal
property as well.) The primary difference is that they are used for property
with unique characteristics. Depreciation of tangible personal property is done
on an accelerated (most often double-declining balance) method. Percentage
depletion assigns a statutory rate that may recover more than the original cost
of the asset.
Asset Type Cost Recovery Type, Characteristics
Personal property MACRS depreciation, characterized by double
declining balance method (although 150% DB or
straight-line may be elected), half-year convention
(although mid-quarter may be required), and shorter
recovery periods.
Real property MACRS depreciation, characterized by straight-line
method, mid-month convention, and longer
recovery periods.
Intangibles Amortization, characterized by straight-line method,
full-month convention, various recovery periods
(usually not based on actual life) depending on
intangible type.
Natural Resources Depletion (cost or percentage), cost depletion
allocates the cost of a natural resource based on
resource estimates (tons, ounces, barrels, etc.),
straight-line method, based on actual extraction
quantities, percentage depletion allocates a statutory
expense (depending on resource type) based on
gross income, but limited to 50% of net income, and
is the only cost recovery method that allows a
taxpayer to recover more than the original basis of
an asset.
4. [LO 1] Is an asset’s initial or cost basis simply its purchase price? Explain.
The initial basis of any purchased business asset is historical cost. This is
generally the purchase price, plus any other expenses (e.g. sales tax and
installation costs) incurred to get the asset in working condition. This does not
include costs which substantially improve or extend the life of an asset such as
a building addition.
Chapter 02 - Property Acquisition and Cost Recovery
2-3 © 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution
in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
5. [LO 1] Compare and contrast the basis of property acquired via purchase, conversion
from personal use to business or rental use, a nontaxable exchange, gift, and
inheritance.
The basis of purchased assets is historical cost. The basis rules for other
acquisitions depend on whether the transaction was taxable or not. For taxable
transactions there is usually a step-up in basis to fair market value. For non-
taxable transactions, there is usually a carryover basis. Conversion of assets
from personal use gets the lesser of the two values. The specific rules are as
follows:
Acquisition Type Basis Rules
Purchase The initial basis is historical cost plus all costs
incurred to get the asset to its destination and in
working order.
Conversion from
personal use
The depreciable basis would be the lesser of the fair
market value of the asset on the date of conversion
or the adjusted basis of the transferor.
Non-taxable
exchange
The basis is a carryover basis of the transferor since
there is no recognition of gain or loss on the transfer
(not a taxable transaction).
Gift The basis is generally a carryover basis, because
these transactions usually aren’t taxable. If gift tax
is paid, the basis may be increased by a portion of
the gift tax paid.
Inheritance The basis is the fair market value on the date of
death or the alternate valuation date six months later
(if elected by the estate). The fair market value is
used because the transfer arises from a taxable
transaction.
6. [LO 1] Explain why the expenses incurred to get an asset in place and operable should
be included in the asset’s basis.
Additional expenses, including sales tax, shipping, installation costs, and the
like are capitalized into an asset’s basis because all costs required to place an
asset into service are required to be included into its basis. That is, without
these costs, the taxpayer would not be able to place in service or use the asset
in a business.
7. [LO 1] Graber Corporation runs a long-haul trucking business. Graber incurs the
following expenses: replacement tires, oil changes, and a transmission overhaul.
Which of these expenditures may be deducted currently and which must be capitalized?
Explain.
Chapter 02 - Property Acquisition and Cost Recovery
2-4 © 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution
in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
An expense that extends the useful life of an asset will be capitalized as a new
asset—depreciated over the same MACRS recovery period of the original asset
rather than the remaining life of the existing asset. Alternatively, expenses that
constitute routine maintenance should be expensed immediately. An engine
overhaul is likely to be a capitalized expense. Tires and oil changes are likely
to be expensed currently. However, all expenses are subject to a facts and
circumstances test.
8. [LO 2] MACRS depreciation requires the use of a recovery period, method, and
convention to depreciate tangible personal property assets. Briefly explain why each is
important to the calculation.
MACRS depreciation calculations are straightforward once you know the
recovery period (life), method, and convention for the asset. Recovery period is
the statutory life or the period over which a taxpayer will allocate the
depreciation expense. Profitable taxpayers prefer the recovery period to be as
short as possible so that they may recoup the basis as quickly as possible. The
method is generally the double-declining (200% DB) method. However,
taxpayers may elect to use either the 150% DB method (useful if they are
subject to AMT, to avoid calculating both regular and AMT depreciation) or
straight-line method (to lengthen depreciation expense for taxpayers in an
expiring NOL situation). The convention determines how much depreciation is
taken in both the year of acquisition and the year of disposition. The half-year
convention is used to simplify calculating depreciation based on the number of
days an asset was owned during the year, but the mid-quarter convention is
required if more than 40% of the tangible personal property placed in service
during the year was placed in service during the fourth quarter.
9. [LO 2] Can a taxpayer with very little current year income choose to not claim any
depreciation expense for the current year and thus save depreciation deductions for the
future when the taxpayer expects to be more profitable?
Taxpayers must reduce the basis of depreciable property by the depreciation
allowed or allowable (§1011). Therefore, taxpayers must reduce their basis
whether or not they claim the depreciation expense. As a result, taxpayers are
better off taking the depreciation expense even if it creates a net operating loss
or is taxed at a relatively low marginal tax rate.
10. [LO 2] [Planning] What depreciation methods are available for tangible personal
property? Explain the characteristics of a business likely to adopt each method.
Chapter 02 - Property Acquisition and Cost Recovery
2-5 © 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution
in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Taxpayers may elect to use the 200% DB, 150% DB, or the straight-line
method for tangible personal property. It is important to note that all three
methods allow the same depreciation expense over the same recovery period.
Nevertheless, profitable taxpayers will elect to use the 200% DB method
because it minimizes the after-tax cost of the asset by maximizing the present
value of the depreciation expenses—through accelerating the depreciation
expenses. Taxpayers traditionally subject to the AMT may elect to use the
150% DB method because it saves them the administrative inconvenience of
calculating depreciation under both methods when the resulting expense under
the 150% DB method required by AMT. Taxpayers may elect to use the
straight-line method if they want to slow down depreciation expense—which is
counterintuitive but often occurs for companies that regularly incur NOLs and
would like to preserve these losses for a time when they expect profitability or
will be acquired by another taxpayer that may be able to utilize the NOLs.
11. [LO 2] If a business places several different assets in service during the year, must it
use the same depreciation method for all assets? If not, what restrictions apply to the
business’s choices of depreciation methods?
Taxpayers may generally choose the depreciation method used for assets
placed in service. The MACRS general depreciation system generally uses the
200% DB method for tangible personal property and the straight line method
for real property. However, taxpayers may elect either the 150% DB or
straight-line method for tangible personal property on an asset class by asset
class basis (§168(g)(7)). For example, if a taxpayer places in service a
computer (5-year property), a delivery truck (5-year property), and machinery
(7-year property) an election could be made to use the straight-line method for
all 5 year property and continue to use the 200% DB method for the 7-year
property. Alternatively, an election could be made to use the straight line
method for only the 7-year property or all tangible personal property placed in
service during the year. Once made, the method choice is an accounting
method election and is irrevocable.
12. [LO 2] Describe how you would determine the MACRS recovery period for an asset if
you did not already know it.
Rev. Proc. 87-56 is the definitive authority for determining the recovery period
of all assets under MACRS. This guidance divides assets into asset classes
(groups of similar property) upon which the recovery period is determined as
the midpoint of the asset depreciation range (ADR) (the system developed by
the IRS for pre-ACRS property). However, the “87” in the citation indicates
that the Rev. Proc. was issued in 1987. As a result, taxpayers, or their
Chapter 02 - Property Acquisition and Cost Recovery
2-6 © 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution
in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
advisors, must verify that the guidance is still valid. For example, qualified
restaurant property, qualified leasehold improvement property, and qualified
Alaska natural gas pipeline are examples of assets to which Congress has given
preferential recovery periods since 1987.
13. [LO 2] [Research] Compare and contrast the recovery periods used by MACRS and
those used under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
Rev. Proc. 87-56 is the definitive authority for determining the recovery period
of all assets under MACRS. However, Congress in §168 has recently modified
the recovery period of some assets. Financial accounting rules are vague at
best. FASB Concept Statement 5 indicates that assets should be recognized
over the accounting period of their life. FASB Concept Statement 6 defines an
asset as a probable future benefit. ARB 43 indicates that the cost should be
spread over the assets useful life in a systematic and rational manner. APB 12
requires companies, through financial statement disclosure, to disclose to
investors current depreciation expense, depreciation method, and recovery
period used for assets. As a result, companies could use any rational recovery
period for financial accounting purposes.
14. [LO 2] What are the two depreciation conventions that apply to tangible personal
property under MACRS? Explain why Congress provides two methods.
The two depreciation conventions that apply to tangible personal property
under MACRS are the half-year convention and the mid-quarter convention.
MACRS uses a simplifying half-year convention. The half-year convention
allows one-half of a full year’s depreciation in the year the asset is placed in
service, regardless of when it was actually placed in service. For example,
when the half-year convention applies, an asset placed in service on either
January 30 or December 17 is treated as though it was placed in service on
July 1 which is the middle of the calendar year. The original ACRS system
included only the half-year convention; however, Congress felt that some
taxpayers were abusing the system by purposely acquiring assets at the end of
the year that they otherwise would have acquired at the beginning of the next
taxable year (allowable tax planning under ACRS). In 1987, as part of
MACRS, the mid-quarter convention was implemented. The mid-quarter
convention treats assets as though they were placed in service during the
middle of the quarter in which the business actually placed the asset into
service. For example, when the mid-quarter convention applies, if a business
places an asset in service on December 1 (in the fourth quarter) it must treat
the asset as though it was placed in service on November 15, which is the
middle of the fourth quarter.
Chapter 02 - Property Acquisition and Cost Recovery
2-7 © 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution
in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
15. [LO 2] A business buys two identical tangible personal property assets for the same
identical price. It buys one at the beginning of the year and one at the end of year.
Under what conditions would the taxpayer’s depreciation on each asset be exactly the
same? Under what conditions would it be different?
MACRS has two conventions: half-year and mid-quarter conventions. The half-
year convention is the general rule and simplifies the depreciation process by
allowing one half year of depreciation taken on all assets placed in service
during the year. The mid-quarter convention is required if more than 40% of a
taxpayer’s tangible personal property is placed in service during the fourth
quarter of the year. The depreciation on the two assets would be the same if the
taxpayer was using the half-year convention—which would apply if the
taxpayer purchased and placed in service other assets during the year so that
the 40% placed in service fourth quarter test is failed. The depreciation on the
two assets would be different if the two assets were the only assets placed in
service during the year—so that 50% was placed in service during the 4th
quarter and the mid-quarter convention was required to be used.
16. [LO 2] AAA, Inc., acquired a machine in year 1. In May of year 3, it sold the asset.
Can AAA find its year 3 depreciation percentage for the machine on the MACRS
table? If not, what adjustment must AAA make to its full year depreciation percentage
to determine its year 3 depreciation?
The applicable depreciation convention applies in the year of disposal as well
as the year of acquisition. The MACRS tables cannot anticipate an assets
disposal and therefore assume the asset was used in a trade or business for the
entire year. As a result, AAA must apply the applicable convention to the table
percentage upon disposal to arrive at the correct percentage. If the half-year
convention applies, then multiplying the MARCRS table full year depreciation
by 50% (one-half of a year’s depreciation) will help you arrive at the correct
percentage. Alternatively, if the mid-quarter convention applies, the asset is
treated as though it is sold in the middle of the quarter of which it was actually
sold. The simplest process for calculating mid-quarter convention depreciation
for the year of sale is to use the following four step approach: (1) determine the
amount of depreciation expense for the asset as if the asset were held for the
entire year; (2) subtract one-half of a quarter from the quarter in which the
asset was sold (if sold in 3rd quarter subtract .5 from 3 to get 2.5); (3) divide
the outcome from Step 2 by 4 (quarters) (2.5/4) this is the fraction of the full
year’s depreciation the taxpayer is eligible to deduct, and (4) multiply the Step
(3) outcome by the full depreciation determined in Step (1).
Chapter 02 - Property Acquisition and Cost Recovery
2-8 © 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution
in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
17. [LO 2] There are two recovery period classifications for real property. What reasons
might Congress have to allow residential real estate a shorter recovery period than
nonresidential real property?
Non-residential property currently has a recovery period of 39 years while
residential property has a recovery period of 27.5 years. Non-residential has
longer lives because the construction methods are more substantial which
results in longer lives. For example, non-residential often uses steel frame with
concrete and/or block floors and walls. In contrast, residential uses balloon
construction using 2x4 timbers for structure. The non-residential components
often are built with more substantial materials as well. Some argue that
residential property receives higher use percentages and is subject to more
wear and tear.
18. [LO 2] Discuss why Congress has instructed taxpayers that real property be depreciated
using the mid-month convention as opposed to the half-year or mid-quarter
conventions used for tangible personal property.
The purpose of MACRS conventions is to simplify the calculation of
depreciation. Real property is characterized by higher basis and less frequent
acquisition than tangible personal property. These two reasons suggest that
mid-month convention approximates actual wear and tear on real property
better than the half-year and mid-quarter conventions would. For example, if a
building was purchased in January or December it would be entitled to 11.5 or
.5 months, respectively, of depreciation under the mid-month convention--which
is close to the actual time the asset was placed in service. This contrasts with
the half-year convention that would allow 6 months or the mid-quarter
convention that would allow 10.5 or 1.5 months, respectively, of depreciation.
19. [LO 2] [Research] If a taxpayer has owned a building for 10 years and decides that it
should make significant improvements to the building, what is the recovery period for
the improvements?
MACRS generally classifies additions to property as a new asset placed in
service subject to the same depreciable life as the original asset. For example,
if a $2,000,000 addition is made to an office building (non-residential property)
then the asset’s basis is $2,000,000 and its recovery period is 39 years.
However, if the improvements are in the form of minor repairs that simply
maintain the integrity of the structure they would be expensed. A third
alternative is that all or a portion of the improvements could represent non-
structural components (such as leasehold improvements) of the non-residential
property and, therefore, qualify as tangible personal property which is
generally subject to accelerated methods and shorter recovery periods.
Chapter 02 - Property Acquisition and Cost Recovery
2-9 © 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution
in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
20. [LO 2] Compare and contrast the differences between computing depreciation expense
for tangible personal property and depreciation expense for real property under both the
regular tax and alternative tax systems.
MACRS allows the 200% DB method to be used whereas AMT requires the
150% DB method to be used for tangible personal property. Both MACRS and
AMT require the straight-line method for real property. Therefore, the AMT
adjustment for tangible personal property is the difference between
depreciation calculated under the 200% DB and the 150% DB methods. There
is no AMT adjustment required for real property. For taxpayers that elect
either the 150% DB or straight-line method for tangible personal property
there is no AMT adjustment required with respect to that property.
21. [LO 3] Discuss why a small business might be able to deduct a greater percentage of
the assets it places in service during the year than a larger business.
The tax law allows for expensing of tangible personal property for certain
businesses. The deduction is phased out for taxpayers that place more than a
certain amount of property in service during the year. Since most large
businesses place more than the limit of property in service, they are ineligible
for the §179 deduction.
22. [LO 3] Explain the two limitations placed on the §179 deduction. How are they
similar? How are they different?
The §179 deduction has two limitations: the property placed in service and the
taxable income limitation. The property placed in service limitation phases out
the maximum deduction amount dollar for dollar for property placed in service
over the $2,000,000 limit (for 2013). After being limited by the property placed
in service limitation, the §179 deduction is further limited to the taxpayer’s
taxable income after regular MACRS depreciation but before deducting any
§179 expense. The two limitations are similar in that they both limit the §179
deduction. However, the first limitation was designed to limit the amount of
property that can be expensed as a means of defining small businesses while the
second limitation prevents the expense from creating a loss for the taxable year.
23. [LO 3] Compare and contrast the types of businesses that would benefit from and those
that would not benefit from the §179 expense.
The availability of the §179 expense is limited by the property placed in service
and income limitations. The property placed in service limitation phases out
the §179 expense ($500,000) dollar for dollar for tangible personal property
placed in service over the $2,000,000 threshold. Thus, firms that place
Chapter 02 - Property Acquisition and Cost Recovery
2-10 © 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution
in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
$2,500,000 of property in service during the year are ineligible to deduct any
§179 expense. As a result, firms that place in service smaller amounts of
property are eligible for the expensing election while those that place large
amounts of property in service an ineligible. The second limitation is that firms
can only currently expense assets up to net income (before the §179 expense,
but after the regular MACRS depreciation expense). As a result, profitable
firms are eligible for the §179 expense while firms in a loss position are
currently ineligible but may carry the amount forward. Consequently,
profitable firms that place a relatively small amount of property in service are
able to elect the §179 expense. In contrast, firms that place in service too much
property or are unprofitable are unable to currently expense property under §
179.
24. [LO 3] What strategies will help a business maximize its current depreciation
deductions (including §179)? Why might a taxpayer choose not to maximize its
current depreciation deductions?
There are several planning strategies that will help a taxpayer maximize its
current depreciation deductions. For example, if a taxpayer is close to
exceeding the 4th quarter placed in service limitation, which would require the
mid-quarter convention resulting in less depreciation, the taxpayer could put
off purchases to the beginning of the next taxable year. A taxpayer can elect to
expense under §179 assets that are 7-year assets rather than 5-year assets
because the first year depreciation percentage is lower for 7-year assets
(14.29% versus 20%). As another example, a taxpayer otherwise eligible for
§179 expensing can elect to expense assets placed in service during the 4th
quarter because expensed assets are not included in the mid-quarter test.
25. [LO 3] Why might a business elect only the §179 expense it can deduct in the current
year rather than claiming the full amount available?
Businesses can elect to expense §179 currently, and carry over the expense to
future years if they meet the placed- in- service limitation but do not have
sufficient income to expense the assets currently. However, a business may
elect to expense only the amount it can currently deduct if it believes that
maximizes the present value of current and future depreciation expenses. This
may occur because carryovers of §179 expense are subject to future placed- in-
service and income limitations. For example, they could elect the expense in
the current year (which reduces current and future MACRS depreciation
expenses) and not be able to deduct the expense under §179 because the
business is also limited in future years—so business that are generally limited
would be wise not to make the election. Additionally, if taxpayers typically
elect the maximum §179 expense annually, the amount would be suspended
anyway.
Chapter 02 - Property Acquisition and Cost Recovery
2-11 © 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution
in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
26. [LO3] Describe assets that are considered to be listed property. Why do you think the
Internal Revenue Service requires them to be “listed”?
Listed property comprises business assets that taxpayers may wish to use for
both business and personal purposes. For example, automobiles, planes, boats,
recreation vehicles, and computer equipment and peripherals are considered to
be listed property. The IRS wants to track both the personal and business use
of these assets to limit depreciation to the business use portion. Additionally, if
the business use portion dips below 50%, then taxpayers must use the straight-
line method and potentially recapture excess depreciation deductions.
27. [LO 3] Are taxpayers allowed to claim depreciation expense on assets they use for both
business and personal purposes? What are the tax consequences if the business use
drops from above 50 percent in one year to below 50 percent in the next?
Yes, taxpayers may depreciate mixed use assets (those used for both business
and personal use). However, the otherwise allowable depreciation is reduced
by the non-business use, so that depreciation is only allowed to the extent of
the business use. If the business use falls below 50% in any subsequent year,
then the taxpayer must re-compute depreciation for all prior years as if it had
been using the straight line method over the ADS recovery period. If the prior
depreciation expenses exceed both the prior depreciation expenses and the
current year expense then the taxpayer must recapture the difference into
income during the current year.
28. [LO 3] Discuss why Congress limits the amount of depreciation expense businesses
may claim on certain automobiles.
Automobiles have historically been the most abused, as well as expensive, type
of listed property. To prevent subsidizing business owners’ automobiles
through deductible depreciation expenses, Congress decided to place a
maximum allowable depreciation amount on them. One exception to this rule is
bonus depreciation. Congress allows an additional expense of $8,000 in the
first year for automobiles placed into service during 2013. However, one
important exception from the luxury auto rules are that vehicles weighing more
than 6,000 pounds are not subject to the limit and are also allowed to expense
up to $25,000 during the first year under §179.
29. [LO 3] Compare and contrast how a Land Rover SUV and a Mercedes Benz sedan are
treated under the luxury auto rules. Also include a discussion of the similarities and
differences in available §179 expense.
Chapter 02 - Property Acquisition and Cost Recovery
2-12 © 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution
in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
A Mercedes Benz sedan is less than 6,000 pounds and qualifies as a luxury
automobile. This limits depreciation to the restrictive luxury auto amounts. In
contrast, the Land Rover is more than 6,000 pounds and escapes the luxury
auto rules. This is advantageous for two reasons: (1) the buyer may currently
expense $25,000 under §179 and (2) the property is not subject to the luxury
auto limits.
30. [LO 4] What is a §197 intangible? How do taxpayers recover the costs of these
intangibles? How do taxpayers recover the cost of a §197 intangible that expires (such
as a covenant not to compete)?
A §197 intangible is a purchased intangible including: goodwill, going concern
value, workforce in place, patents, customer lists, and similar assets. §197
intangibles are amortized over 180 months (15 years) using the straight-line
method, and the full-month convention. To prevent game- playing among the
basis allocations of various §197 intangibles acquired together, no loss is
allowed on a §197 intangible until the last intangible purchased together is
disposed of. For example, in the past, taxpayers would allocate substantial
basis to a 3-year covenant not to compete or some other short-live intangible
rather than goodwill (with a longer recovery period). If a §197 intangible
expires or is disposed of before the 180 month amortization period expires any
remaining basis of the disposed intangible is allocated among the remaining
intangibles purchased at the same time.
31. [LO 4] Compare and contrast the tax and financial accounting treatment of goodwill.
Are taxpayers allowed to deduct amounts associated with self-created goodwill?
US GAAP requires goodwill to be capitalized and tested annually for
impairment. If and when the goodwill is impaired, the difference between the
book value and the new fair value will be expensed. For tax purposes,
goodwill is treated like any other §197 intangible. §197 intangibles are
amortized over 180 months (15 years) using the straight-line method, and the
full-month convention.
With respect to self-created assets taxpayers must amortize any capitalized
costs (any unamortized research and experimentation expenses and with fees
necessary to create the asset) over the life of the asset. For financial
accounting these costs are normally expensed.
32. [LO 4] Compare and contrast the similarities and differences between organizational
expenditures and start-up costs for tax purposes.
Chapter 02 - Property Acquisition and Cost Recovery
2-13 © 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution
in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Organizational expenditures and start-up costs are sometimes confused
because both expense types are similar in that they are both incurred about the
time the business begins. However, the expenses relate to different concerns.
Start-up costs are costs that would be deductible as ordinary trade or business
expense under §162, except for the fact that the trade or business had not
started. An example of start-up costs is employee wages incurred before
actual production begins at the factory. Alternatively, organizational
expenditures relate to professional fees related to creating the entity. An
example of organizational expenditures is attorney fees incurred for
preparation of the corporate charter or partnership agreement. Additionally,
all businesses can deduct start-up costs, but only corporations and
partnerships can deduct organizational expenditures.
33. [LO 4] Discuss the methodology used to determine the amount of organizational
expenditures or start-up costs that may be immediately expensed in the year a taxpayer
begins business.
Start-up costs can be expensed up to $5,000 and organizational expenditures
can each be expensed, up to $5,000, in the year the business begins. However,
the current expense is reduced dollar for dollar if the expenses exceed a
threshold amount. The threshold for both start-up costs and organizational
expenditures is $50,000. Any remaining expenses can be amortized over 15
years (180 months) for both types of costs. For example, if a taxpayer incurs
$23,000 of organizational costs, it may currently expense $5,000—since the
total expense is less than the $50,000 threshold. The remaining $18,000
($23,000 - $5,000 expense) may be amortized at a rate of $100 per month
($18,000 / 180 months).
34. [LO 4] Explain the amortization convention applicable to intangible assets.
MACRS uses the half-year, mid-quarter, and mid-month conventions. These
simplifying conventions assume that the asset was placed in service during the
middle of the year, quarter, or month, respectively. Intangibles are amortized
using the full-month convention. This convention allows a full or entire month
of amortization in each month the asset is owned—beginning with the month
the intangible is placed in service.
35. [LO 4] Compare and contrast the recovery periods of §197 intangibles, organizational
expenditures, start-up costs, and research and experimentation expenses.
All intangibles are amortized using the full-month convention over the
applicable recovery period. §197 assets must be amortized over a 15-year
recovery period. Organizational expenditures and start-up costs are eligible
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for up to $5,000 of expensing in the year the business begins. This expense is
reduced dollar for dollar over a $50,000 threshold. The remaining expenses
are amortized over a 15-year recovery period. Research and experimentation
expenses may be capitalized or amortized over the determinable useful life, or
if no determinable life, not less than 60 months. Any unamortized expense that
is allocable to a self-created intangible such as a patent is amortized over the
intangible’s life.
36. [LO 5] Compare and contrast the cost and percentage depletion methods for recovering
the costs of natural resources. What are the similarities and differences between the
two methods?
Both cost and percentage depletion methods are used to recoup the cost of
natural resources. A taxpayer is allowed to deduct the depletion method that
results in the largest deduction in the current year. Cost depletion is a cost
recovery method based on the amount of the estimated raw materials used
during the year. The basic premise is that a business ratably recovers the cost
basis of the resource as it is used up. Cost depletion is taken until the basis of
the asset is recovered. If the natural resource is exhausted before the basis is
recovered then the remaining basis is expensed. In contrast, percentage
depletion is a statutory method that allows an expense based on the lesser of
50% of net income from the activity or a percentage (statutorily determined) of
the gross receipts from the business during the current year. Percentage
depletion is allowed to continue even after the asset’s basis has been fully
recovered.
37. [LO 5] Explain why percentage depletion has been referred to as a government subsidy.
Percentage depletion is often referred to as a government subsidy because it is
an expense designed to encourage production of specific resources. For
example, oil and gas, coal, and many other natural resources are assigned
specific percentage depletion rates (between 5% and 22%), while timber is
excluded from resources applicable to the method. To encourage development
of a certain resource, Congress can simply raise the statutory percentage for
the resource type. In addition, percentage depletion expense can transcend
reality. How many expenses are allowed to exceed the taxpayer’s basis in an
asset? Very few expenses, if any are allowed in excess of basis. Savvy
taxpayers can underestimate the estimate of a natural resource, accelerate its
cost recovery through cost depletion, and then continue to receive depletion
benefits through percentage depletion. For these reasons, percentage
depletion is referred to as a subsidy.
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Problems 38. [LO 1] Jose purchased a delivery van for his business through an online auction. His
winning bid for the van was $24,500. In addition, Jose incurred the following expenses
before using the van: shipping costs of $650; paint to match the other fleet vehicles at a
cost of $1,000; registration costs of $3,200 which included $3,000 of sales tax and a
registration fee of $200; wash and detailing for $50; and an engine tune-up for $250.
What is Jose’s cost basis for the delivery van?
$29,150, cost basis in the delivery van, computed as follows:
Description
Amount Explanation*
Purchase price $24,500
Shipping costs 650 Business preparation cost
Paint 1,000 Business preparation cost
Sales tax 3,000 Business preparation cost
Total cost basis $29,150
*Note that the registration fee, washing and detailing, and engine tune-up are costs for
repairs and maintenance that are not required to be capitalized.
39. [LO 1] Emily purchased a building to store inventory for her business. The purchase
price was $760,000. Beyond this, Emily incurred the following necessary expenses to
get the building ready for use: $10,000 to repair the roof, $5,000 to make the interior
suitable for her finished goods, and $300 in legal fees. What is Emily’s cost basis in
the new building?
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$765,300 cost basis, computed as follows:
Description
Amount Explanation
Purchase price $760,000
Improvements 5,000 Business preparation costs
Legal fees 300 Business preparation costs
Cost basis in building $765,300*
*Note that the $10,000 repair for the roof was not capitalized. The repair is likely routine
maintenance expenditure rather than a capitalized cost. However, if the expense improved
or prolonged the life of the asset beyond what would be considered maintenance to keep it
in its working condition, it would be capitalized.
40. [LO 1] Dennis contributed business assets to a new business in exchange for stock in
the company. The exchange did not qualify as a nontaxable exchange. The fair market
value of these assets was $287,000 on the contribution date. Dennis’s original basis in
the assets he contributed was $143,000, and the accumulated depreciation on the assets
was $78,000.
a. What is the business’s basis in the assets it received from Dennis?
b. What would be the business’s basis if the transaction qualified as a
nontaxable exchange?
a. Because this exchange is a fully taxable transaction, the business’s basis in Dennis’s
assets is the $287,000 fair market value of the assets.
b. If the transaction qualified as a nontaxable exchange, the business would take the same
adjusted basis in the assets that Dennis had. That is, the business will receive an
exchanged basis of $65,000 ($143,000 original basis minus accumulated depreciation of
$78,000) in the assets.
41. [LO 1] Brittany started a law practice as a sole proprietor. She owned a computer,
printer, desk, and file cabinet she purchased during law school (several years ago) that
she is planning to use in her business. What is the depreciable basis that Brittany
should use in her business for each asset, given the following information?
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Asset Purchase Price FMV at Time
Converted to Business
use
Computer $2,500 $800
Printer $300 $150
Desk $1,200 $1,000
File cabinet $200 $225
The basis of assets converted from personal use to business use is the lesser of (1) fair
market value on date of conversion or (2) basis on the date of conversion. The basis of each
asset is as follows:
Asset
(1)
FMV
(2)
Basis on Date of
Conversion
Lesser of
(1) or (2)
Depreciable Basis
Computer $800 $2,500 $800
Printer $150 $300 $150
Desk $1,000 $1,200 $1,000
File cabinet $225 $200 $200
42. [LO 1] Meg O’Brien received a gift of some small-scale jewelry manufacturing
equipment that her father had used for personal purposes for many years. Her father
originally purchased the equipment for $1,500. Because the equipment is out of
production and no longer available, the property is currently worth $4,000. Meg has
decided to begin a new jewelry manufacturing trade or business. What is her
depreciable basis for depreciating the equipment?
The basis of a gift is a carryover basis from the donor. Therefore Meg’s
depreciable basis in the property is $1,500.
43. [LO 1] Gary inherited a Maine summer cabin on 10 acres from his grandmother. His
grandparents originally purchased the property for $500 in 1950 and built the cabin at a
cost of $10,000 in 1965. His grandfather died in 1980 and when his grandmother
recently passed away, the property was appraised at $500,000 for the land and
$700,000 for the cabin. Since Gary doesn’t currently live in New England, he decided
that it would be best to put the property to use as a rental. What is Gary’s basis in the
land and in the cabin?
The basis of inherited property is the fair market value on the date of death or,
if elected by the estate, the alternate valuation date if less. Consequently,
Gary’s basis will be $500,000 in the land and $700,000 for the cabin.
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44. [LO 1] Wanting to finalize a sale before year-end, on December 29, WR Outfitters sold
to Bob a warehouse and the land for $125,000. The appraised fair market value of the
warehouse was $75,000, and the appraised value of the land was $100,000.
a. What is Bob’s basis in the warehouse and in the land?
b. What would be Bob’s basis in the warehouse and in the land if the appraised
value of the warehouse is $50,000, and the appraised value of the land is
$125,000?
c. Which appraisal would Bob likely prefer?
NOTE: This is a bargain purchase. The sales price is less than the
appraised value. This solution uses the relative appraised values of the land
and the warehouse to allocate the purchase price between these two assets.
a. Bob’s cost basis in the land is $71,429. Because the purchase price is less
than the appraised values for the land and the warehouse, the purchase price
must be allocated between the land and the warehouse. The $71,429 basis
for the land is the amount of the $125,000 purchase price that is allocated to
the land based on the relative value of the land ($100,000) to the value of the
land ($100,000) plus the value of the warehouse ($75,000) based on the
appraisal. The formula used to determine the basis allocated to the land is
$125,000 (purchase price) x $100,000/($100,000 + 75,000).
Use the same process to determine that Bob’s basis in the warehouse is
$53,571.
b. Bob’s cost basis for the land is $89,286. Because the purchase price is
less than the appraised values for the land and the warehouse, the purchase
price must be allocated between the land and the warehouse. The $89,286
basis for the land is the amount of the $125,000 purchase price that is
allocated to the land based on the relative value of the land ($125,000) to the
value of the land ($125,000) plus the value of the warehouse ($50,000) based
on the appraisal. The formula used to determine the basis allocated to the
land is $125,000 (purchase price) x $125,000/($50,000 + 125,000).
Use the same process to determine that Bob’s basis in the warehouse is
$35,714.
c. Bob would likely prefer the appraisal from part (a), because the appraisal
allows him to allocate more basis to the warehouse, which is depreciable.
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45. [LO 2] At the beginning of the year, Poplock began a calendar-year dog boarding
business called Griff’s Palace. Poplock bought and placed in service the following
assets during the year:
Asset Date Acquired Cost Basis
Computer equipment 3/23 $5,000
Dog grooming furniture 5/12 $7,000
Pickup truck 9/17 $10,000
Commercial building 10/11 $270,000
Land (one acre) 10/11 $80,000
Assuming Poplock does not elect §179 expensing or bonus depreciation, answer the
following questions:
a. What is Poplock’s year 1 depreciation expense for each asset?
b. What is Poplock’s year 2 depreciation expense for each asset?
a. $5,445, under the half-year convention for personal property, calculated as
follows:
Asset
Purchase
Date
Quarter
Recovery
period
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation Computer
equipment 23-Mar 1st 5 years $5,000 20.00% $1,000
Dog grooming
furniture 12-May
2nd
7 years $7,000 14.29% $1,000
Pickup truck 17-Sep 3rd 5 years $10,000 20.00% $2,000
Building 11-Oct 4th 39 years $270,000 0.535% $1,445
$5,445
b. $13,437, calculated as follows:
Asset
Purchase
Date
Quarter
Recovery
period
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation Computer
equipment 23-Mar 1st 5 years $5,000 32.00% $1,600
Dog grooming
furniture 12-May
2nd
7 years $7,000 24.49% $1,714
Pickup truck 17-Sep 3rd 5 years $10,000 32.00% $3,200
Building 11-Oct 4th 39 years $270,000 2.564% $6,923
$13,437
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46. [LO 2] DLW Corporation acquired and placed in service the following assets during the
year:
Asset Date Acquired Cost Basis
Computer equipment 2/17 $10,000
Furniture 5/12 $17,000
Commercial building 11/1 $270,000
Assuming DLW does not elect §179 expensing or bonus depreciation, answer the
following questions:
a. What is DLW’s year 1 cost recovery for each asset?
b. What is DLW’s year 3 cost recovery for each asset if DLW sells all of these
assets on 1/23 of year 3?
a. $5,296, under the half-year convention for personal property, calculated as
follows:
Asset
Purchase
Date
Quarter
Recovery
period
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation Computer
equipment 17-Feb 1st 5 years $10,000 20.00% $2,000
Furniture 12-May 2nd 7 years $17,000 14.29% $2,429
Building 1-Nov 4th 39 years $270,000 0.321% $867
$5,296
b. $2,735, calculated as follows:
Asset
Original
Basis
Recovery
period
Rate
Portion of
Year
Depreciation
Expense
Computer
equipment $10,000 5 years 19.2% 50.00% $960
Furniture $17,000 7 years 17.49% 50.00% $1,487
Building $270,000 39 years 2.564% 4.17% $288
Total Depreciation Expense $2,735
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47. [LO 2] At the beginning of the year, Dee began a calendar-year business and placed in
service the following assets during the year:
Asset Date Acquired Cost Basis
Computer equipment 3/23 $5,000
Furniture 5/12 $7,000
Pickup truck 11/15 $10,000
Commercial building 10/11 $270,000
Assuming Dee does not elect §179 expensing or bonus depreciation, answer the
following questions:
a. What is Dee’s year 1 cost recovery for each asset?
b. What is Dee’s year 2 cost recovery for each asset?
a. $4,945, using the mid-quarter convention for personal property, as calculated
below. Dee is required to use the mid-quarter convention because more than 40
percent of the tangible personal property was placed in service during the 4th
quarter. Dee placed 45.45% ($10,000 / ($5,000 + $7,000 + $10,000)) of the
tangible personal property in service during the 4th quarter.
Asset
Purchase
Date
Quarter
Recovery
period
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Cost
Recovery Computer
equipment 23-Mar 1st 5 years $5,000 35.00% $1,750
Furniture 12-May 2nd 7 years $7,000 17.85% $1,250
Pickup truck 15-Nov 4th 5 years $10,000 5.00% $500
Building 11-Oct 4th 39 years $270,000 0.535% $1,445
$4,945
b. $13,666, using the mid-quarter convention for personal property, calculated
as follows:
Asset
Purchase
Date
Quarter
Recovery
period
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Cost
Recovery Computer
equipment 23-Mar 1st 5 years $5,000 26.00% $1,300
Furniture 12-May 2nd 7 years $7,000 23.47% $1,643
Pickup truck 15-Nov 4th 5 years $10,000 38.00% $3,800
Building 11-Oct 4th 39 years $270,000 2.564% $6,923
$13,666
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48. [LO 2] Evergreen Corporation (calendar year end) acquired the following assets
during the current year (ignore §179 expense and bonus depreciation for this
problem):
Asset
Placed in
Service Date
Original
Basis
Machinery October 25 $70,000
Computer Equipment February 3 $10,000
Used Delivery Truck* August 17 $23,000
Furniture April 22 $150,000 *The delivery truck is not a luxury automobile.
a. What is the allowable MACRS depreciation on Evergreen’s property in the
current year?
b. What is the allowable MACRS depreciation on Evergreen’s property in the
current year if the machinery had a basis of $170,000 rather than $70,000?
a. $38,038, under the half year convention, calculated as follows:
Asset
Placed in
Service
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation
Computer equipment (5 year) February 3 $10,000 20.00% $2,000
Furniture (7 year) April 22 $150,000 14.29% $21,435
Used delivery truck (5 year) August 17 $23,000 20.00% $4,600
Machinery (7 year) October 25 $70,000 14.29% $10,003
Total $253,000 $38,038
Evergreen isn’t required to use the mid-quarter convention because only 27.67% of its
tangible personal property was placed in service during the 4th quarter
(70,000/253,000). Additionally, the delivery truck is not considered to be a luxury auto
b. $39,794, under the mid-quarter convention, as computed below. Evergreen is
required to use the mid-quarter convention because greater than 40 percent of tangible
personal property was placed in service during the 4th quarter. Evergreen placed
48.2% [$170,000 / ($10,000 + $23,000 + $150,000 + $170,000)] of its tangible
personal property in service during the 4th quarter.
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Asset Placed in Service
Quarter
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation
Computer equipment (5 year) February 3 1st $10,000 35.00% $3,500
Furniture (7 year) April 22 2nd $150,000 17.85% $26,775
Used delivery truck (5 year) August 17 3rd $23,000 15.00% $3,450
Machinery (7 year) October 25 4th $170,000 3.57% $6,069
Total $353,000 $39,794
49. [LO 2] Convers Corporation (June 30 year-end) acquired the following assets during
the current tax year (ignore §179 expense and bonus depreciation for this problem):
Asset
Placed in
Service Date
Original
Basis
Machinery October 25 $70,000
Computer Equipment February 3 $10,000
Used Delivery Truck* March 17 $23,000
Furniture April 22 $150,000
Total $253,000 *The delivery truck is not a luxury automobile.
What is the allowable MACRS depreciation on Convers’ property in the current
year?
$22,800, under the mid-quarter convention, as computed below. Convers is required
to use the mid-quarter convention because greater than 40 percent of tangible personal
property was placed in service during its 4th quarter. Convers placed 59.3% [$150,000
/ ($70,000 + $10,000 + $23,000 + $150,000)] of its tangible personal property in
service during the 4th quarter (April – June).
Asset Placed in Service
Quarter
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) × (2)
Depreciation
Machinery (7 year) October 25 2nd $70,000 17.85% $12,495
Computer Equipment (5 year) February 3 3rd $10,000 15.00% $1,500
Used delivery truck (5 year) March 17 3rd $23,000 15.00% $3,450
Furniture (7 year) April 22 4th $150,000 3.57% $5,355
Total $253,000 $22,800
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50. [LO 2] {Planning} Parley needs a new truck to help him expand Parley’s Plumbing
Palace. Business has been booming and Parley would like to accelerate his tax
deductions as much as possible (ignore §179 expense and bonus depreciation for this
problem). On April 1, Parley purchased a new delivery van for $25,000. It is now
September 26 and Parley, already in need of another vehicle, has found a deal on
buying a truck for $22,000 (all fees included). The dealer tells him if he doesn’t buy
the truck (Option 1), it will be gone tomorrow. There is an auction (Option 2)
scheduled for October 5 where Parley believes he can get a similar truck for $21,500,
but there is also a $500 auction fee.
a. Which option allows Parley to generate more depreciation expense
deductions this year (the vehicles are not considered to be luxury autos)?
b. Assume the original facts except that the delivery van was placed in service
one day earlier on March 31 rather than April 1. Which option generates
more depreciation expense?
a. Option 1 generates more depreciation. Option 1 generates $9,400 of depreciation
and Option 2 generates $7,350.
Option 1: Half-year convention applies
Asset
Date Placed
in Service
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation
Delivery Van April 1 $25,000 20.00% $5,000
Option 1 September 26 $22,000 20.00% $4,400
Total $9,400
Option 2: Mid-quarter convention applies
Asset
Date Placed
in Service
Quarter
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation
Delivery Van April 1 2nd $25,000 25.00% $6,250
Option 2 October 5 4th $22,000 5.00% $1,100
Total $7,350
b. Option 2 generates more depreciation expense ($9,850 vs. 9,400).
Under Option 1, because the half-year convention applies, the depreciation expense is
$9,400, the same as it is in part a.
Under Option 2, because the mid-quarter convention applies and the Delivery Van was
placed in service in the first quarter (on March 31), Parley is allowed to deduct more
depreciation overall. The depreciation under Option 2 in this scenario is $9,850,
computed as follows:
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Option 2: Mid-quarter convention applies
Asset
Date Placed
in Service
Quarter
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation
Delivery van March 31 1st $25,000 35.00% $8,750
Option 2 October 5 4th $22,000 5.00% $1,100
Total $9,850
51. [LO 2] Way Corporation disposed of the following tangible personal property assets in
the current year. Assume that the delivery truck is not a luxury auto. Calculate Way
Corporation’s 2013 depreciation expense (ignore §179 expense and bonus depreciation
for this problem).
Asset
Date acquired
Date sold
Convention
Original
Basis
Furniture (7 year) 5/12/09 7/15/13 HY $55,000
Machinery (7 year) 3/23/10 3/15/13 MQ $72,000
Delivery truck* (5 year) 9/17/11 3/13/13 HY $20,000
Machinery (7 year) 10/11/12 8/11/13 MQ $270,000
Computer (5 year) 10/11/13 12/15/13 HY $80,000 *Used 100 percent for business.
Depreciation is $51,851, calculated as follows:
Asset
Original
Basis
Quarter
If mid
quarter
Rate
Portion of
Year
Depreciation
Expense
Furniture $55,000 n/a 8.93% 50.00% $2,456
Machinery $72,000 1st 10.93% 12.50% $984
Delivery truck $20,000 n/a 19.20% 50.00% $1,920
Machinery $270,000 4th 27.55% 62.50% $46,491
Computer $80,000 n/a 0.00% 50.00% $0_*
Total Depreciation Expense $51,851
*No depreciation for assets acquired and disposed of in the same year.
52. [LO 2] On November 10 of year 1 Javier purchased a building, including the land it
was on, to assemble his new equipment. The total cost of the purchase was
$1,200,000; $300,000 was allocated to the basis of the land and the remaining
$900,000 was allocated to the basis of the building.
a. Using MACRS, what is Javier’s depreciation expense on the building for
years 1 through 3?
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b. What would be the year 3 depreciation expense if the building was sold on
August 1 of year 3?
c. Answer the question in part (a), except assume the building was purchased
and placed in service on March 3 instead of November 10.
d. Answer the question in part (a), except assume that the building is residential
property.
e. What would be the depreciation for 2013, 2014, and 2015 if the property
were nonresidential property purchased and placed in service November 10,
1996 (assume the same original basis)?
a. The depreciation for the 3 years is computed as follows:
Year
Method
Recovery
Period
Date
Placed in
Service
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation
1 SL 39 Nov. 10 $900,000 0.321% $2,889
2 $900,000 2.564% $23,076
3 $900,000 2.564% $23,076
b. The depreciation for year 3 would be $14,423 and is computed as follows
(The building is sold in month 8 so depreciation for the year is for 8 minus
one-half month =7.5 months.):
Year
Method
Recovery
Period
Date
Placed in
Service
(1)
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation
3 SL 39 Nov. 10 $900,000 2.564% $23,076
Partial year x 7.5/12
$14,423
c. The depreciation for years 1 – 3 is computed as follows (note that years 2
and 3 are the same):
Year
Method
Recovery
Period
Date
Placed in
Service
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation
1 SL 39 March 3 $900,000 2.033% $18,297
2 $900,000 2.564% $23,076
3 $900,000 2.564% $23,076
d. If the property was residential real property, the building is depreciated
over 27.5 years instead of 39 years. The depreciation for years 1 - 3 is
computed as follows:
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Year
Method
Recovery
Period
Date
Placed in
Service
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation
1 SL 27.5 Nov. 10 $900,000 0.455% $4,095
2 $900,000 3.636% $32,724
3 $900,000 3.636% $32,724
e. If the property was nonresidential real property purchased in 1996, the
depreciation for the 3 years is computed as follows for years 18, 19, and 20
in the depreciation table:
Year
Method
Recovery
Period
Date
Placed in
Service
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation
2013 SL 39 1996 $900,000 2.564% $23,076
2014 $900,000 2.564% $23,076
2015 $900,000 2.564% $23,076
53. [LO 2] Carl purchased an apartment complex for $1.1 million on March 17 of year
1. $300,000 of the purchase price was attributable to the land the complex sits on.
He also installed new furniture into half of the units at a cost of $60,000.
a. What is Carl’s allowable depreciation expense for his real property for years
1 and 2?
b. What is Carl’s allowable depreciation expense for year 3 if the property is
sold on January 2 of year 3?
a. The depreciation on the real property for the 2 years is computed as
follows:
Year
Method
Recovery
Period
Date
Placed in
Service
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation
1 SL 27.5 March 17 $800,000 2.879% $23,032
2 $800,000 3.636% $29,088
Note that the furniture is depreciable personal property.
b. The depreciation for year 3 is computed as follows:
Year
Method
Recovery
Period
Date
Placed in
Service
(1)
Original
Basis
(2)
Rate
(1) x (2)
Depreciation
3 SL 27.5 March 17 $800,000 3.636% $29,088
Partial year* x .5/12
$1,212
*mid- month convention applies to real property in year of acquisition and year of
disposition.
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54. [LO 2, LO 3] AMP Corporation (calendar year end) has 2013 taxable income of
$900,000 before the §179 expense. During 2013, AMP acquired the following
assets:
Asset
Placed in
Service Basis
Machinery September 12 $1,550,000
Computer Equipment February 10 365,000
Office Building April 2 480,000
Total $2,395,000
a) What is the maximum amount of §179 expense AMP may deduct for 2013?
b) What is the maximum total depreciation expense, including §179 expense,
that AMP may deduct in 2013 on the assets it placed in service in 2013 assuming
no bonus depreciation?
a. The maximum §179 expense is $500,000.
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Property placed in service in 2013 $1,915,000 Total qualified property
(2) Threshold for §179 phase-out (2,000,000) 2013 amount [§179(b)(2)]
(3) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $-0- (1) – (2) (permanently
disallowed)
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out $500,000 2013 amount [§179(b)(1)]
(5) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $-0- From (3)
(6) Maximum §179 expense after phase-out $500,000 (4) – (5)
b. The maximum depreciation expense is $731,776 (half-year convention).
Depreciation is maximized by applying the §179 expense against 7-year rather than 5- year
property.
Asset
Original
Basis
§179
Expense
Remaining
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
Expense
Machinery (7-year) $1,550,000 $500,000 $1,050,000 14.29% $150,045
Computer Equipment (5-
year) $365,000 $365,000
20.00% $73,000
Office building (39 year) $480,000 $480,000 1.819% $8,731
§179 Expense $500,000
Total cost recovery $731,776
55. [LO 2, LO 3] Assume that TDW Corporation (calendar year end) has 2013 taxable
income of $650,000 before the §179 expense, acquired the following assets during
2013:
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Asset
Placed in
Service Basis
Machinery October 12 $1,270,000
Computer Equipment February 10 263,000
Furniture April 2 880,000
Total $2,413,000
a) What is the maximum amount of §179 expense TDW may deduct for 2013?
b) What is the maximum total depreciation expense, including §179 expense,
that TDW may deduct in 2013 on the assets it placed in service in 2013 assuming
no bonus depreciation?
a. The maximum §179 expense is $87,000.
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Property placed in service in 2013 $2,413,000 Total qualified property
(2) Threshold for §179 phase-out (2,000,000) 2013 amount [§179(b)(2)]
(3) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $413,000 (1) – (2) (permanently
disallowed)
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out $500,000 2013 amount [§179(b)(1)]
(5) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $413,000 From (3)
(6) Maximum §179 expense after phase-out $87,000 (4) – (5)
b. The maximum depreciation expense is $378,363 (mid-quarter convention).
Depreciation is maximized by applying the §179 expense against 7-year rather than 5- year
property, and in this case, depreciation is maximized by applying the §179 expense against
the machinery.
Asset
Original
Basis
§179
Expense
Remaining
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
Expense
Machinery (7-year) $1,270,000 $87,000 $1,183,000 3.57% $42,233
Computer Equipment
(5- year) $263,000 $263,000
35.00% 92,050
Furniture (7 year) $880,000 $880,000 17.85% 157,080
§179 Expense 87,000
Total cost recovery $378,363
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56. [LO 2, LO 3] Assume that Timberline Corporation has 2013 taxable income of
$240,000 before the §179 expense.
Asset
Purchase
Date Basis
Furniture (7-year) December 1 $350,000
Computer Equipment (-5 year) February 28 90,000
Copier (5-year) July 15 30,000
Machinery (7-year) May 22 480,000
Total $950,000
a) What is the maximum amount of §179 expense Timberline may deduct for
2013? What is Timberline’s §179 carryforward to 2014, if any?
b) What would Timberline’s maximum depreciation expense be for 2013
assuming no bonus depreciation?
c) What would Timberline’s maximum depreciation expense be for 2013 if the
furniture cost $2,000,000 instead of $350,000 and assuming no bonus
depreciation?
a) The maximum section 179 expense would be $240,000:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Property placed in service $950,000 Total qualified assets
(2) Threshold for §179 phase-out (2,000,000) 2013 amount (§179(b)(2))
(3) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $0 (1) – (2) (permanently
disallowed)
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out $500,000 2013 amount (§179(b)(1))
(5) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $0 From (3)
(6) Maximum §179 expense after phase-out $500,000 (4) – (5)
(7) Taxable income before §179 deduction $240,000 Given in problem
(8) §179 expense after taxable income
limitation.
$240,000 Lesser of (6) and (7)
(9) §179 carryforward to next year $260,000 (6) – (8)
b) The half-year convention applies because only 15.49% of its personal property was
placed in service in the 4th quarter (($350,000 – 240,000)/(950,000 –
240,000)=110,000/710,000). (Because the mid-quarter test is applied after taking §179
expense, it is optimal to take the §179 expense against qualified property placed into
service during the fourth quarter.)
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Timberline’s depreciation expense is $348,311 computed as follows:
Asset
Original
Basis
§179
Expense
Remaining
Basis*
Rate
Depreciation
Expense
Furniture $350,000 $240,000 $110,000 14.29% $15,719
Computer Equipment $90,000 $90,000 20.00% $18,000
Copier $30,000 $30,000 20.00% $6,000
Machinery $480,000 $480,000 14.29% $68,592
§179 Expense $240,000
Total Depreciation Expense $348,311
Depreciation expense is maximized by applying the §179 expense against 7-year instead of
5-year property.
c) The maximum section 179 expense would be $0, computed as follows:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Property placed in service $2,600,000 Total of qualifying assets
(2) Threshold for §179 phase-out (2,000,000) 2013 amount (§179(b)(2))
(3) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $600,000 (1) – (2) (permanently
disallowed)
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out $500,000 2013 amount [§179(b)(1)]
(5) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $600,000 From (3)
Maximum §179 expense after phase-out $0 (4) – (5), but not below 0
The maximum depreciation expense for 2013 using the mid-quarter convention would be
$193,080, computed as follows:
Asset
Original
Basis
§179
Expense
Remaining
Basis*
Quarter
Rate
Depreciation
Expense
Furniture $2,000,000 $2,000,000 4th 3.57% $71,400
Computer
Equipment $90,000 $90,000 1st 35.00% $31,500
Copier $30,000 $30,000 3rd 15.00% $4,500
Machinery $480,000 $480,000 2nd 17.85% $85,680
§179 Expense $0
Total Depreciation Expense $193,080
57. [LO 2, LO 3] {Planning} Dain’s Diamond Bit Drilling purchased the following
assets this year. Assume its taxable income for the year was $53,000 before
deducting any §179 expense (assume no bonus depreciation).
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Asset
Purchase
Date
Original
Basis
Drill Bits (5-year) January 25 $90,000
Drill Bits (5-year) July 25 95,000
Commercial Building April 22 220,000
a) What is Dain’s maximum §179 expense for the year?
b) What is Dain’s maximum depreciation expense for the year (including §179 expense)?
c) If the January drill bits’ original basis was $2,375,000, what is Dain’s maximum §179
expense for the year?
d) If the January drill bits’ basis was $2,495,000, what is Dain’s maximum §179
expense for the year?
a) The maximum section 179 expense is $53,000, computed as follows:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Property placed in service this year $185,000 Total of qualifying
assets
(2) Threshold for §179 phase-out (2,000,000) 2013 amount (§179(b)(2))
(3) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $0 (1) – (2) (permanently
disallowed)
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out $500,000 2013 amount (§179(b)(1))
(5) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $0 From (3)
(6) Maximum §179 expense after phase-out $500,000 (4) – (5)
(7) Taxable income before §179 deduction $53,000 Assumed in problem
§179 expense deductible in 2013 after taxable
income limitation.
$53,000 Lesser of (6) and (7)
b) Dain’s depreciation expense would be $83,402, calculated as follows:
Asset
Original
Basis
§179
Expense
Remaining
Basis*
Rate
Depreciation
Expense
Drill Bits (5 year) $90,000 $53,000 $37,000 20.00% $7,400
Drill Bits (5 year) $95,000 $95,000 20.00% $19,000
Commercial Building (39.5 year) $220,000 $220,000 1.819% $4,002
§179 Expense $53,000
Total Depreciation Expense $83,402
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c) The maximum section 179 expense would be $30,000:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Property placed in service $2,470,000 Total of qualifying
assets
(2) Threshold for §179 phase-out (2,000,000) 2013 amount (§179(b)(2))
(3) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $470,000 (1) – (2) (permanently
disallowed)
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out $500,000 2013 amount (§179(b)(1))
(5) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $470,000 From (3)
(6) Maximum §179 expense after phase-out $30,000 (4) – (5)
(7) Taxable income before §179 deduction $53,000 Assumed in problem
Maximum §179 expense after taxable income
limitation.
$30,000 Lesser of (6) and (7)
d) The maximum section 179 expense would be $0:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Property placed in service $2,590,000 Total of qualifying
assets
(2) Threshold for §179 phase-out (2,000,000) 2013 amount (§179(b)(2))
(3) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $590,000 (1) – (2) (permanently
disallowed)
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out $500,000 2013 amount (§179(b)(1))
(5) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $590,000 From (3)
(6) Maximum §179 expense after phase-out $0 (4) – (5)
(7) Taxable income before §179 deduction $53,000 Assumed in problem
Maximum §179 expense after taxable income
limitation.
$0 Lesser of (6) and (7)
58. [LO 2, LO 3] {Research} Assume that ACW Corporation has 2013 taxable income
of $1,000,000 before the §179 expense, acquired the following assets during 2013
(assume no bonus depreciation):
Asset Placed in Service Basis
Machinery September 12 $470,000
Computer equipment February 10 70,000
Delivery truck August 21 93,000
Qualified leasehold improvements April 2 380,000
Total $1,013,000
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a) What is the maximum amount of §179 expense ACW may deduct for 2013?
b) What is the maximum total depreciation expense that ACW may deduct in 2013 on
the assets it placed in service in 2013?
a. The maximum §179 expense is $500,000.
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Qualifying property placed in service in
2013
$1,013,000 Total of qualifying
assets
(2) Threshold for §179 phase-out (2,000,000) 2013 amount [§179(b)(2)]
(3) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $-0- (1) – (2) (permanently
disallowed)
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out $500,000 2013 amount [§179(b)(1)]
(5) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $-0- From (3)
(6) Maximum §179 expense after phase-out $500,000 (4) – (5)
b. The maximum depreciation expense is $568,371 (half year convention).
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended §179 for qualified leasehold
improvements up to $250,000 for 2013. Therefore depreciation is maximized by
applying the §179 expense against the qualified real property first up to its maximum
amount and then applying to the 7-year rather than 5- year property.
Asset
Original
Basis
§179
Expense
Remaining
Basis*
Rate
Depreciation
Expense
Machinery (7-year) $470,000 $250,000 $220,000 14.29% $31,438
Computers (5- year) $70,000 $70,000
20.00% $14,000
Delivery Truck (5 year) $93,000 $93,000 20.00% $18,600 Leasehold improvements
(15 year)* $380,000 250,000 $130,000 3.33% $4,333
§179 Expense $500,000
Total Depreciation Expense $568,371
*The leasehold improvements are 15-year property and must be depreciated using the
half-year convention (§168(d)(1) and the straight-line method (§168(e)(3)(E)(iv)).
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59. (LO2, LO3) Chaz Corporation has taxable income in 2013 of $312,000 before the §179
expense and acquired the following assets during the year:
Asset
Placed in
Service Basis
Office furniture September 12 $1,280,000
Computer Equipment February 10 930,000
Delivery Truck August 21 68,000
Total $2,278,000
What is the maximum total depreciation expense that Chaz may deduct in 2013?
The maximum depreciation expense is $1,425,394 determined as follows:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Property placed in service $2,278,000 Total of qualifying
assets
(2) Threshold for §179 phase-out (2,000,000) 2013 amount [§179(b)(2)]
(3) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $278,000 (1) – (2) (permanently
disallowed)
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out $500,000 2013 amount [§179(b)(1)]
(5) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense 278,000 From (3)
(6) Maximum §179 expense after phase-out $ 222,000 (4) – (5), not limited by
taxable income
Chaz will receive the most benefit by applying the §179 amount to the furniture (7-year
property.
Asset
Original
Basis
§179
Expense
Remaining
Basis
Bonus
Depreciation
Remaining
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
Expense
Furniture
(7-year) $1,280,000 $222,000 $1,058,000 529,000 $529,000 14.29% $75,594
Computers
(5- year) 930,000 930,000 465,000 465,000 20.00% 93,000
Delivery Truck
(5 year) 68,000 68,000 34,000 34,000 20.00% 6,800
§179 Expense $222,000
Bonus depreciation $1,028,000 $1,028,000
Total Depreciation Expense $1,425,394
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60. (LO2, LO3) Woolard Inc. has taxable income in 2013 of $150,000 before any
depreciation deductions (§179, bonus, or MACRS) and acquired the following assets
during the year:
Asset
Placed in
Service Basis
Office furniture (used) March 20 $600,000
a. If Woolard elects $50,000 of §179, what is Woolard’s total depreciation deduction
for the year?
b. If Woolard elects the maximum amount of §179 for the year, what is the amount of
deductible §179 expense for the year? What is the total depreciation expense that
Woolard may deduct in 2013? What is Woolard’s §179 carryforward to next year,
if any?
c. Woolard is concerned about future limitations on its §179 expense. How much
§179 expense should Woolard expense this year if it wants to maximize its
depreciation this year and to avoid any carryover to future years?
a. Woolard’s total deductible depreciation is $128,595 calculated as follows:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Property placed in service $600,000 Total of qualifying assets
(2) Elected §179 amount (50,000) Given in problem
(3) Remaining asset basis $550,000 (1) – (2)
(4) MACRS depreciation rate 14.29% 7-yr, half-year convention
(5) MACRS depreciation $78,595 (3) x (4)
(6) Taxable income limitation for §179 71,405 $150,000 – (5);
(7) Deductible §179 50,000 Lesser of elected amount
or (6)
(7) Total deductible depreciation $128,595 (5) + (7)
The furniture does not qualify for bonus depreciation since it is used.
b. Woolard deducts $135,710 of §179. Woolard carries forward §179 expense of
$364,290 to next year. The total deductible depreciation is $150,000 determined as
follows:
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Description Amount Explanation
(1) Property placed in service $600,000 Total of qualifying assets
(2) Threshold for §179 phase-out (2,000,000) 2013 amount [§179(b)(2)]
(3) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense 0 (1) – (2) (permanently
disallowed)
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out $500,000 2013 amount [§179(b)(1)]
(5) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense 0 From (3)
(6) Maximum §179 expense after phase-out $500,000 (4) – (5) This is the amount
Woolard elects for the year.
(7) Remaining basis in furniture 100,000 (1) – (6)
(8) MACRS depreciation rate 14.29% 7-year, half-year convention
(9) MACRS depreciation 14,290 (7) x (8)
(10) §179 taxable income limitation $135,710 $150,000 – (9)
(11) Maximum deductible §179 expense after
taxable income limitation.
$135,710 Lesser of (6) or (10)
Excess §179 expense carried forward $364,290 (6) – (11)
Woolard’s total depreciation deduction $150,000 (9) + (11)
Woolard elects the maximum allowed for the year and must reduce the assets’ bases by
this amount. The remaining basis is subject to regular MACRS depreciation. Since the
furniture is used property it is not eligible for bonus depreciation. The §179 taxable
income limitation is taxable income after regular depreciation deductions but before the
§179 expense. Woolard’s §179 deduction is limited to this taxable income amount. The
remaining §179 amount that Woolard elected but is not allowed to deduct this year can
be carried over to future years.
c. Woolard should elect to expense $74,974 of §179 to maximize its depreciation this
year and to avoid any carryover determined as follows:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Property placed in service $600,000 Total of qualifying assets
(2) Threshold for §179 phase-out (2,000,000) 2013 amount [§179(b)(2)]
(3) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense 0 (1) – (2) (permanently
disallowed)
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out $500,000 2013 amount [§179(b)(1)]
(5) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense 0 From (3)
(6) Maximum §179 expense after phase-out $500,000 (4) – (5)
(7) §179 amount Woolard elects to maximize the
current year total depreciation deduction
$74,974 See discussion below
(8) Remaining basis in furniture 525,026 (1) – (7)
(9) MACRS depreciation rate 14.29% 7-year, half-year
convention
(10) MACRS depreciation 75,026 (9) x (8)
(11) §179 taxable income limitation $74,974 $150,000 – (10)
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(12) Maximum §179 expense after taxable
income limitation.
$74,974 Lesser of (7) or (11). This
is the amount Woolard
elects for the year.
Excess §179 expense $-0- (7) – (12)
Woolard’s total depreciation deduction $150,000 (10) + (12)
Woolard must determine the maximum §179 amount allowed for the year without being
limited by the taxable income limitation. To do this, Woolard determines the §179
amount as follows:
§179 amount = Taxable income before any depreciation minus regular MACRS
depreciation.
The MACRS depreciation amount is determined after the §179 elected amount because
the depreciable basis is reduced by the elected §179 amount and would be determined
as follows:
MACRS depreciation = Depreciation rate x (asset cost minus elected §179)
To solve this, assume the following labels:
I = taxable income before any depreciation
R = MACRS depreciation rate
C = asset cost
S = §179 expense
The elected §179 amount will equal:
S = I – R(C – S)
Rearranging and solving for S:
S = (I – RxC)/(1 – R)
Substituting in Woolard’s facts:
S = ($150,000 – 14.29% x $600,000)/(1 – 14.29%)
S = $74,974.
This amount of §179 minimizes Woolard’s required basis reduction of its assets and
produces the most depreciation Woolard is eligible to take this year.
61. [LO 2, LO 3] {Planning} Assume that Sivart Corporation has 2013 taxable income
of $750,000 before the §179 expense, acquired the following assets during 2013:
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Asset
Placed in
Service Basis
Machinery October 12 $1,440,000
Computer Equipment February 10 70,000
Delivery Truck - used August 21 93,000
Furniture April 2 310,000
Total $1,913,000
a) What is the maximum amount of §179 expense Sivart may deduct for 2013?
b) What is the maximum total depreciation expense (§179, bonus, MACRS) that Sivart
may deduct in 2013 on the assets it placed in service in 2013?
a. The maximum §179 expense is $500,000.
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Property placed in service in 2012 $1,913,000 Total of qualifying
assets
(2) Threshold for §179 phase-out 2,000,000 2013 amount [§179(b)(2)]
(3) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $0 (1) – (2) (permanently
disallowed)
(4) Maximum 179 expense before phase-out $500,000 2013 amount [§179(b)(1)]
(5) Phase-out of maximum §179 expense $0 From (3)
(6) Maximum §179 expense after phase-out $500,000 (4) – (5), not limited by
taxable income
b. The maximum depreciation expense is $1,230,657 (mid-quarter convention).
Depreciation is maximized by (1) applying the §179 expense against 7-year rather than
5 year property and (2) applying against the 7-year property placed in service in the 4th
quarter (machinery) rather than the furniture that was placed in service in the second
quarter because, due to the mid-quarter convention, the percentage for computing
depreciation on the machine is only 3.57% while it is 17.85% for the furniture. As a
general rule, the taxpayer will maximize current year depreciation expense by applying
the §179 expense against the asset with the lowest depreciation percentage. The new
assets are eligible for 50 percent bonus. The truck does not qualify for bonus
depreciation because it is used property.
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Asset
Original
Basis
§179
Expense
Remaining
Basis
Bonus
Depreciation
Remaining
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
Expense
Machinery
(7-year) $1,440,000 $500,000 $940,000 $470,000 $470,000 3.57% $16,779
Computers
(5- year) 70,000 70,000 35,000 35,000 35.00% 12,250
Delivery Truck
(5 year) 93,000 93,000 - 93,000 15.00% 13,950
Furniture
(7 year) 310,000 310,000 155,000 155,000 17.85% 27,668
§179 Expense $500,000
Bonus depreciation $660,000 $660,000
Total Depreciation Expense $1,230,647
62. [LO 3] Phil owns a ranch business and uses 4-wheelers to do much of his work.
Occasionally, though, he and his boys will go for a ride together as a family activity.
During year 1, Phil put 765 miles on the 4-Wheeler that he bought on January 15 for
$6,500. Of the miles driven, only 175 miles was for personal use. Assume 4-
Wheelers qualify to be depreciated according to the 5-Year MACRS schedule and
the 4-Wheeler was the only asset Phil purchased this year.
a. Calculate the allowable depreciation for the year 1 (ignore the §179 expense
and bonus depreciation).
b. Calculate the allowable depreciation for year 2 if total miles were 930 and
personal use miles were 400 (ignore the §179 expense and bonus
depreciation).
a) The depreciation expense will be $1,003 in year 1, calculated as follows:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Original basis of 4-wheeler $6,500 Assumed in problem
(2) MACRS depreciation rate 20% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ½ yr. convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation expense $1,300 (1) x (2)
(4) Business use percentage 77.12% 590 miles/765 miles
Depreciation deduction for year $1,003 (3) x (4)
b) The depreciation expense will be $1,185 in year 2, calculated as follows:
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Description Amount Explanation
(1) Original basis of 4-wheeler $6,500 Assumed in problem
(2) MACRS depreciation rate 32% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ½ yr. convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation expense $2,080 (1) x (2)
(4) Business use percentage 56.99% 530 miles/930 miles
Depreciation deduction for year $1,185 (3) x (4)
63. [LO 3] Assume that Ernesto purchased a laptop computer on July 10 of year 1 for
$3,000. In year 1, 80 percent of his computer usage was for his business and 20
percent was for computer gaming with his friends. This was the only asset he placed
in service during year 1. Ignoring any potential §179 expense and bonus
depreciation, answer the questions for each of the following alternative scenarios:
a. What is Ernesto’s depreciation deduction for the computer in year 1?
b. What would be Ernesto’s depreciation deduction for the computer in year 2 if
his year 2 usage were 75 percent business and 25 percent for computer
gaming?
c. What would be Ernesto’s depreciation deduction for the computer in year 2 if
his year 2 usage were 45 percent business and 55 percent for computer
gaming?
d. What would be Ernesto’s depreciation deduction for the computer in year if
his year 2 usage were 30 percent business and 70 percent for computer
gaming?
a) The depreciation expense will be $480 in year 1, calculated as follows:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Original basis of laptop $3,000 Assumed in problem
(2) MACRS depreciation rate 20% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ½ yr. convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation expense $600 (1) x (2)
(4) Business use percentage 80% Assumed in the problem
Depreciation deduction for year $480 (3) x (4)
b) The depreciation expense will be $720 in year 2, calculated as follows:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Original basis of laptop $3,000 Assumed in problem
(2) MACRS depreciation rate 32% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ½ yr. convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation expense $960 (1) x (2)
(4) Business use percentage 75% Assumed in the problem
Depreciation deduction for year $720 (3) x (4)
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c) $30. Because his business usage is below 50%, Ernesto must use the straight-
line method to determine depreciation. Using this method, his depreciation
expense for year 2 is $270. However, because his business usage dropped from
above to below 50%, he must also recalculate prior year depreciation using the
straight line method. Any accelerated depreciation that he claimed in the prior
year in excess of the straight-line amount for that prior year reduces the $270 of
depreciation expense for year 2. In this case, the excess $240 depreciation
reduces the $270, leaving $30 of depreciation expense as computed below.
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Straight-line depreciation in current
year
$270 $3,000/5 years x 45%
business
(2) Prior year straight-line depreciation $240 $3,000/5 x ½ year convention x
80% business use percentage
(3) Prior year accelerated depreciation $480 From part “a” above
(4) Excess accelerated depreciation $240 (3) – (2)
Current year depreciation deduction $30 (1) – (4).
d) Income of $60 (no depreciation deduction). Because his business usage in
year 2 is below 50%, Ernesto must use the straight-line method to determine
depreciation. Using this method, his depreciation expense is $180 in year 2
because his business use is 30%. Moreover, because the computer is listed
property and fell below 50% business use, depreciation for year 1 must be
recalculated using the straight-line method and any excess depreciation reduces
the year 2 depreciation amount. In this case, the excess depreciation of $240 is
$60 greater than the $180 straight line depreciation so Ernesto does not get to
deduct depreciation expense in year 2, but instead he must recognize ordinary
income of $60. The $60 of income is computed as follows:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Straight-line depreciation in current
year
$180 $3,000/5 years x 30%
business
(2) Prior year straight-line depreciation $240 $3,000/5 x ½ year convention x
80% business use percentage
(3) Prior year accelerated depreciation $480 From part “a” above
(4) Excess accelerated depreciation $240 (3) – (2)
Current year income ($60) (1) – (4).
64. [LO 3] Lina purchased a new car for use in her business during 2012. The auto was
the only business asset she purchased during the year and her business was
extremely profitable. Calculate her maximum depreciation deductions (including
§179 expense unless stated otherwise) for the automobile in 2012 and 2013 (Lina
doesn’t want to take bonus depreciation for 2012 or 2013) in the following
alternative scenarios (assuming half-year convention for all and that 2012 limitations
apply to 2013):
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a. The vehicle cost $15,000 and business use is 100 percent (ignore §179
expense).
b. The vehicle cost $40,000, and business use is 100 percent.
c. The vehicle cost $40,000, and she used it 80 percent for business.
d. The vehicle cost $40,000, and she used it 80 percent for business. She sold
it on March 1 of year 2.
e. The vehicle cost $40,000, and she used it 20 percent for business.
f. The vehicle cost $40,000 and is an SUV that weighed 6,500 pounds.
Business use was 100 percent.
a. The depreciation expense is $3,000 in 2012 and $4,800 in 2013, calculated as
follows:
Description
2012
Amount
2013
Amount Explanation
(1) Original basis of auto $15,000 $15,000 Assumed in problem
(2) MACRS depreciation rate 20% 32% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ½ yr. convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation expense $3,000 $4,800 (1) x (2)
(4) Maximum auto depreciation $3,160 $5,100 Luxury auto limits
Depreciation deduction for year $3,000 $4,800 Lesser of (3) or (4))
b. The depreciation expense is $3,160 in 2012 and $5,100 in 2013, calculated as
follows:
Description
2012
Amount
2013
Amount Explanation
(1) Original basis of auto $40,000 $40,000 Assumed in problem
(2) MACRS depreciation rate 20% 32% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ½ yr. convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation expense $8,000 $12,800 (1) x (2)
(4) Maximum auto depreciation $3,160 $5,100 Luxury auto limits
Depreciation deduction for year $3,160 $5,100 Lesser of (3) or (4)
c. The depreciation expense will be $2,528 in 2012 and $4,080 in 2013, calculated
as follows:
Description
2012
Amount
2013
Amount Explanation
(1) Original basis of auto $40,000 $40,000 Assumed in problem
(2) MACRS depreciation rate 20% 32% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ½ yr. convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation expense $8,000 $12,800 (1) x (2)
(4) Maximum auto depreciation $3,160 $5,100 Luxury auto limits
(5) Depreciation deduction for year
based on 100% business use $3,160 $5,100
Lesser of (3) or (4)
(6) Business use percentage 80% 80% Assumed in problem
Depreciation deduction for year $2, 528 $4,080 (5) x (6)
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d. The depreciation expense will be $2,528 in 2012 (as calculated in part c
above).The depreciation expense will be $2,040 in 2013, calculated as follows:
Description
2013
Amount Explanation
(1) Original basis of auto $40,000 Assumed in problem
(2) MACRS depreciation rate 32% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ½ yr. convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation expense $12,800 (1) x (2)
(4) Maximum auto depreciation $5,100 Luxury auto limit year 2
(5) Depreciation for entire year $5,100 Lesser of (3) or (4)
(6) Partial year 50%
Half year of depreciation
(half-year convention)
(7) Depreciation deduction for year $2,550
(8) Business use percentage 80% Assumed in problem
Depreciation deduction for year $2,040 (7) x (8)
e. The depreciation expense will be $6.32 in 2012 and $1,020 in 2013, calculated as
follows:
Description
2012
Amount
2013
Amount Explanation
(1) Original basis of auto $40,000 $40,000 Assumed in problem
(2) MACRS (Straight-line)
depreciation rate 10%
20% 5-yr straight-line, ½ yr.
convention.
(3) Full MACRS depreciation expense $4,000 $8,000 (1) x (2)
(4) Maximum auto depreciation $3,160 $5,100 Luxury auto limits
(5) Depreciation deduction for year
based on 100% business use
$3,160 $5,100
Lesser of (3) or (4)
(6) Business use percentage 20% 20% Assumed in problem
Depreciation deduction for year $632 $1,020 (5) x (6)
f. The depreciation expense will be $28,000 in 2012 and $4,800 in 2013, calculated
as follows:
Description 2012
Amount
2013
Amount
Explanation
(1) Original basis of auto $40,000 N/A Assumed in problem
(2) Section 179 expense $25,000 N/A
Maximum §179
expense for SUV
(3) Depreciable basis $15,000 $15,000 (1) – (2)
(4) MACRS depreciation rate 20% 32% 5-yr prop, yr. 1, ½ yr.
convention.
(5) Full MACRS depreciation expense $3,000 $4,800 (3) x (4)
Depreciation deduction in including
§179 expense for year
$28,000 $4,800
(2) + (5)
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Note that the depreciation is maximized in b – e even without the §179 expense.
65. [LO 3] [Research] Paul Vote purchased the following assets this year (ignore §179
expensing and bonus depreciation when answering the questions below):
Asset Purchase Date Basis
Machinery May 12 $23,500
Computers August 13 $20,000
Warehouse December 13 $180,000
a. What is Paul’s allowable MACRS depreciation expense for the property?
b. What is Paul’s allowable alternative minimum tax (AMT) depreciation
expense for the property? You will need to find the AMT depreciation tables
to compute the depreciation.
a. $7,551, under the half-year convention, calculated as follows:
Asset
Original
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
Expense
Machinery $23,500 14.29% $3,358
Computers $20,000 20.00% $4,000
Nonresidential building $180,000 0.107% $193
Total Depreciation Expense $7,551
b. $5,710, using the AMT table and the half year convention, calculated as
follows:
Asset
Original
Basis
Rate
Depreciation
Expense
Machinery (7 year 150% DB) $23,500 10.71% $2,517
Computers (5 year 150% DB) $20,000 15.00% $3,000
Nonresidential building (39-year
straight-line) $180,000 0.107%
$193
Total Depreciation Expense $5,710
66. [LO 4] After several profitable years running her business, Ingrid decided to acquire
the assets of a small competing business. On May 1 of year 1, Ingrid acquired the
competing business for $300,000. Ingrid allocated $50,000 of the purchase price to
goodwill. Ingrid’s business reports its taxable income on a calendar-year basis.
a. How much amortization expense on the goodwill can Ingrid deduct in year
1, year 2, and year 3?
b. In lieu of the original facts, assume that $40,000 of the purchase price was
allocated to goodwill and $10,000 of the purchase price was allocated to a
customer phone list that has an expected life of two years. How much
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amortization expense on the goodwill and the phone list can Ingrid deduct in
year 1, year 2, and year 3?
c. Assume that the only intangible asset Ingrid acquired was the customer
phone list with a useful life of two years and that $10,000 of the purchase
price was allocated to the customer list. How much amortization expense
for the customer phone list can Ingrid deduct in year 1, year 2, and year 3,
and how will she account for the fact that the phone list is no longer useful
after April of year 3?
a. Ingrid could deduct $2,222 amortization expense on the goodwill in year 1 and $3,333
of amortization expense on the goodwill in years 2 and 3, computed as follows:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Basis of Goodwill $50,000 Provided in example.
(2) Recovery period 180 15 years
(3) Monthly amortization $277.78 (1) / (2)
(4) Months in year 1 x 8 May through December
(5) Year 1 straight-line amortization $2,222 (3) x (4)
(6) Months in years 2 and 3 x 12 January through December
(7) Years 2 and 3, annual straight-line
amortization
$3,333
(3) x (6)
b. Ingrid’s amortization for the goodwill in years 1 is $1,778, year 2 is $2,667, and for year
3 is $3,111; her amortization for the phone list for year 1 is $444, year 2 is $667, and year
3 is $222 computed as follows:
Description Goodwill Phone List
(1) Basis of Goodwill $40,000 $10,000
(2) Recovery period in months 180 180
(3) Monthly amortization $222.22 $55.56
(4) Months in year 1 x 8 x 8
(5) Year 1 straight-line amortization $1,778 $444
(6) Months in year 2 x 12 x 12
(7) Year 2 straight-line amortization $2,667 $667
(8) First 4 months in year 3 x 4/12 x 4/12
(9) Partial year 3 amortization (January
through April)
$889
$222
(10) Partial year 3 amortization (May
through December) See discussion below
2,222
0
Total year 3 amortization $3,111 $222
When a §197 intangible expires before it is fully amortized, the remaining basis is allocated
to the other §197 intangibles acquired in the same transaction (just the goodwill in this
case). After accounting for amortization of the phone list for a portion of year 3, the
remaining basis of the phone list is added to the remaining basis of the goodwill as follows:
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§197 Intangible Assets
Goodwill Phone List
Basis $40,000 $10,000
Accumulated amortization through April of year 3 (see above) ($5,334) ($1,333)
Remaining basis $34,666 $8,667
Allocated to the goodwill $8,667
Revised basis $43,333*
*See computation of May through December amortization for goodwill below
Description Goodwill
(1) Revised basis of section 197 assets $43,333
(2) Remaining recovery period in months
(180 - 24)
156
(3) Monthly amortization (1) / (2) $277.78
(4) 8 months of year 3 (May through
December)
x 8
Partial year 3 amortization (May through
December)
$2,222
c. Ingrid’s amortization for the phone list for year 1 is $444, year 2 is $667, and year 3 is
$667. Even though the useful life has expired, the intangible is still amortized over the
180 months.
67. [LO 4] Juliette formed a new business to sell sporting goods this year. The business
opened its doors to customers on June 1. Determine the amount of start-up costs
Juliette can immediately expense (not including amortization) this year in the
following alternative scenarios.
a. She incurred start-up costs of $2,000.
b. She incurred start-up costs of $45,000.
c. She incurred start-up costs of $53,500.
d. She incurred start-up costs of $63,000.
e. How would you answer parts (a-d) if she formed a partnership or a
corporation and she incurred the same amount of organizational expenditures
rather than start-up costs (how much of the organizational expenditures
would be immediately deductible)?
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a. $2,000, computed as follows:
Organizational Expenditures
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Maximum immediate expense $5,000
(2) Total start-up costs $2,000 Given in problem
(3) Phase-out threshold 50,000
(4) Immediate expense phase-out $0 (2) – (3)
Allowable immediate expense
$2,000
Lesser of (2) or [(1)
minus – (4)]
b. $5,000, computed as follows:
Organizational Expenditures
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Maximum immediate expense $5,000
(2) Total start-up costs $45,000 Given in problem
(3) Phase-out threshold 50,000
(4) Immediate expense phase-out $0 (2) – (3)
Allowable immediate expense
$5,000
Lesser of (2) or [(1)
minus – (4)]
c. $1,500, computed as follows:
Organizational Expenditures
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Maximum immediate expense $5,000
(2) Total start-up costs $53,500 Given in problem
(3) Phase-out threshold 50,000
(4) Immediate expense phase-out $3,500 (2) – (3)
Allowable immediate expense
$1,500
Lesser of (2) or [(1)
minus – (4)]
d. $0, computed as follows:
Organizational Expenditures
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Maximum immediate expense $5,000
(2) Total start-up costs $60,000 Given in problem
(3) Phase-out threshold 50,000
(4) Immediate expense phase-out $10,000 (2) – (3)
Lesser of (2) or [(1)
minus – (4)] (limited to
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Allowable immediate expense $0 $0)
e. The answers would be the same if these were organizational expenditures instead of
start-up costs. Note, however, that organizational expenditures only apply to
corporations and partnerships and do not apply to businesses organized as sole
proprietorships.
68. [LO 4] Nicole organized a new corporation. The corporation began business on
April 1 of year 1. She made the following expenditures associated with getting the
corporation started:
Expense Date Amount
Attorney fees for articles of
incorporation February 10 $32,000
March 1 – March 30 wages March 30 $4,500
March 1 – March 30 rent March 30 $2,000
Stock issuance costs April 1 $20,000
April 1 – May 30 wages May 30 $12,000
a. What is the total amount of the start-up costs and organizational expenditures
for Nicole’s corporation?
b. What amount of the start-up costs and organizational expenditures may the
corporation immediately expense in year 1?
c. What amount can the corporation deduct as amortization expense for the
organizational expenditures and for the start-up costs for year 1 (not
including the amount it immediately expensed)?
d. What would be the allowable organizational expenditures, including
immediate expensing and amortization, if Ingrid started a sole proprietorship
instead?
a. The only qualifying organizational expenditure is the $32,000 of attorney fees
related to the drafting articles of incorporation. The start-up costs are the wages
($4,500) and rent ($2,000) before business began. Therefore, total start-up costs are
$6,500.
b. The corporation may immediately expense $5,000 of the organizational
expenditure and $5,000 of the start-up costs because the amount of organizational
expenditures is under $50,000 and the amount of start-up costs is under $50,000.
c. The corporation will deduct amortization expense of $1,350 for organizational
expenditures and $75 of amortization for start-up costs, computed as follows:
Start-up costs
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Maximum immediate expense $5,000 §195(b)(1)(A)(ii)
(2) Total start-up expenditures $6,500
(3) Phase-out threshold 50,000 §195(b)(1)(A)(ii)
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(4) Immediate expense phase-out $0 (2) – (3)
(5) Allowable immediate expense $5,000 (1) – (4)
(6) Remaining organizational expenditures $1,500 (2) – (5)
(7) Recovery period in months 180 15 years §195(b)(1)(B)
(8) Monthly straight-line amortization 8.33 (6) / (7)
(9) Teton business months during year 1 x 9 April through December
Year 1 straight-line amortization for start-
up costs
$75
(8) x (9)
Organizational expenditures
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Maximum immediate expense $5,000 §248(a)(1)
(2) Total organizational expenditures $32,000 Given in problem
(3) Phase-out threshold 50,000 §248(a)(1)(B)
(4) Immediate expense phase-out $0 (2) – (3)
(5) Allowable immediate expense $5,000 (1) – (4)
(6) Remaining organizational expenditures $27,000 (2) – (5)
(7) Recovery period in months 180 15 years §248(a)(2)
(8) Monthly straight-line amortization 150 (6) / (7)
(9) Teton business months during year 1 x 9 April through December
Year 1 straight-line amortization for
organizational expenditures
$1,350
(8) x (9)
d. Organizational expenditures are only authorized for corporations (§248) and
partnerships (§709). They are not authorized for sole proprietorships. Typically,
sole proprietorships do not incur many of the expenses that would qualify as
organizational expenditures anyway.
69. [LO 4] Bethany incurred $20,000 in research and experimental costs for developing
a specialized product during July of year 1. Bethany went through a lot of trouble
and spent $10,000 in legal fees to receive a patent for the product in August of year
3.
a. What amount of research and experimental expenses for year 1, year 2,
and year 3 may Bethany deduct if she elects to amortize the expenses
over 60 months?
b. How much patent amortization expense would Bethany deduct in year 3
assuming she elected to amortize the research and experimental costs
over 60 months?
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c. If Bethany chose to capitalize but not amortize the research and
experimental expenses she incurred in year 1, how much patent
amortization expense would Bethany deduct in year 3?
a. The amortization of the research expenditures is $2,000 in year 1, $4,000 in
year 2, and $2,333 in year 3, computed as follows:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Research and experimental expenses $20,000 Given in problem
(2) Recovery period in months 60 60 months §174
(3) Monthly straight-line amortization 333.33 (1) / (2)
(4) Bethany’s business months during year 1 x 6 July through December
(5) Year 1 straight-line amortization $2,000 (3) x (4)
(6) Bethany’s business months during year 2 12 January through December
(7) Year 2 straight-line amortization $4,000 (3) x (5)
(8) Bethany’s business months during year
3 before patent is issued in August 7 January through July, year 3
(9) Year 3 straight-line amortization on
research and experimentation costs 2,333 (3) x (8)
(10) Accumulated amortization through July
of year 3 8,333 (5) + (7) + (9)
(11) Unamortized research and
experimentation expenditures as of August,
year 3 $11,667
(1) – (10)
Used in answer to part b
b. The patent amortization is $531, computed as follows:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Unamortized research and experimental expenses $11,667 See (11) part a above
(2) Legal expenses related to patent $10,000 Given in problem
(3) Amortizable expenses for patent $21,667 (1) + (2)
(4) Recovery period in months 204 17 years §167(f)
(5) Monthly straight-line amortization 106.21 (3) / (4)
(6) Bethany’s business months from August through
December x 5
Year 3 straight-line amortization for patent $531 (5) x (6)
c. The patent amortization is $735, computed as follows:
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Research and experimental expenses $20,000
Given in problem
(not amortized)
(2) Legal expenses related to patent $10,000 Given in problem
(3) Amortizable expenses $30,000 (1) + (2)
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(4) Recovery period in months 204 17 years §167(f)
(5) Monthly straight-line amortization 147.06 (3) / (4)
(6) Bethany’s business months from August through
December x 5
Year 3 straight-line amortization for patent $735 (5) x (6)
70. [LO 5] Last Chance Mine (LC) purchased a coal deposit for $750,000. It estimated
it would extract 12,000 tons of coal from the deposit. LC mined the coal and sold it
reporting gross receipts of $1 million, $3 million, and $2 million for years 1 through
3, respectively. During years 1 – 3, LC reported net income (loss) from the coal
deposit activity in the amount of ($20,000), $500,000, and $450,000, respectively.
In years 1 – 3, LC actually extracted 13,000 tons of coal as follows:
Depletion Tons extracted per year
(1)
Tons of Coal
(2)
Basis
(2)/(1)
Rate Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
12,000 $750,000 $62.50 2,000 7,200 3,800
a. What is Last Chance’s cost depletion for years 1, 2, and 3?
b. What is Last Chance’s percentage depletion for each year (the applicable
percentage for coal is 10 percent)?
c. Using the cost and percentage depletion computations from the previous
parts, what is Last Chance’s actual depletion expense for each year?
a. Last Chance’s cost depletion is $125,000 for year 1, $450,000 for year 2, and $175,000
for year 3, calculated as follows:
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Explanation
(1) Tons extracted 2,000 7,200 3,800 Given in problem
(2) Depletion rate $62.50 $62.50 $62.50 Given in problem
Cost Depletion Expense $125,000 $450,000 $175,000* (1) x (2)
*This is the remaining basis. Under the cost depletion method, the taxpayer’s
amortization is limited to the cost basis in the natural resource. The full amount of
amortization would have been $237,500 if this were not the case.
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b. Last Chance’s percentage depletion for each year is calculated as follows: Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Explanation
(1) Net income from activity (before
depletion expense) ($20,000) $500,000 $450,000 Given in problem
(2) Gross Income $1,000,000 $3,000,000 $2,000,000 Given in problem
(3) Percentage x 10% x 10% x 10% Given in problem
(4) Percentage Depletion Expense
before limit $100,000 $300,000 $200,000
(2) x (3)
(5) 50% of net income limitation $0 $250,000 $225,000 (1) x 50%
Allowable percentage depletion $0 $250,000 $200,000 Lesser of (4) or (5)
Note that percentage depletion is not limited to the basis in the property.
c. Depletion expense is the greater of cost depletion or percentage depletion calculated as
follows: Tax Depletion Expense
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Explanation
(1) Cost depletion $125,000 $450,000 $175,000 Part a
(2) Percentage depletion $0 $250,000 $200,000 Part b
Deductible depletion expense $125,000 $450,000 $200,000 Greater of (1) or (2)
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Comprehensive Problems
71. Back in Boston, Steve has been busy creating and managing his new company,
Teton Mountaineering (TM), which is based out of a small town in Wyoming. In the
process of doing so, TM has acquired various types of assets. Below is a list of
assets acquired during 2012:
Asset Cost Date Place in Service
Office furniture $10,000 02/03/2012
Machinery 560,000 07/22/2012
Used delivery truck* 15,000 08/17/2012
*Not considered a luxury automobile, thus not subject to the luxury automobile
limitations
During 2012, TM had huge success (and had no §179 limitations) and Steve acquired
more assets the next year to increase its production capacity. These are the assets
acquired during 2013:
Asset Cost Date Place in Service
Computers & Info. System $40,000 03/31/2013
Luxury Auto† 80,000 05/26/2013
Assembly Equipment 475,000 08/15/2013
Storage Building 400,000 11/13/2013
†Used 100% for business purposes. Use 2012 limitations for 2013.
TM generated taxable income in 2013 before any §179 expense of $732,500.
Required
a. Compute 2012 depreciation deductions including §179 expense (ignoring bonus
depreciation).
b. Compute 2013 depreciation deductions including §179 expense (ignoring bonus
depreciation).
c. Compute 2013 depreciation deductions including §179 expense, but now assume
that Steve would like to take bonus depreciation.
d. Ignoring part c, now assume that during 2013, Steve decides to buy a
competitor’s assets for a purchase price of $350,000. Compute maximum 2013
cost recovery including §179 expense (ignoring bonus depreciation). Steve
purchased the following assets for the lump-sum purchase price.
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Asset Cost Date Placed in Service
Inventory $20,000 09/15/2013
Office furniture 30,000 09/15/2013
Machinery 50,000 09/15/2013
Patent 98,000 09/15/2013
Goodwill 2,000 09/15/2013
Building 130,000 09/15/2013
Land 20,000 09/15/2013
e. Complete Part I of Form 4562 for part b.
a) The 2012 depreciation deduction is $513,003.
Description Cost Sec. 179
Expense
MACRS
Basis
Current
MACRS
Expense
Total
Expense
Office Furniture 10,000 10,000 - - 10,000
Machinery 560,000 490,000 70,000 10,003 500,003
Used Delivery Truck 15,000 15,000 3,000 3,000
Totals 585,000 500,000 85,000 13,0032 513,003
b) The 2013 depreciation deduction is $529,387.
Description Cost Sec. 179
Expense
MACRS
Basis
Current
MACRS
Expense
Total
Expense
Office Equipment 10,000 - - -
Machinery 560,000 70,000 17,143 17,143
Used Delivery Truck 15,000 15,000 4,800 4,800
Computers & Info.
System 40,000 25,000 15,000 3,000 28,000
Luxury Auto 80,000 80,000 3,160 3,160
Assembly Equipment 475,000 475,000 - - 475,000
Storage Building 400,000 400,000 1,284 1,284
Totals 1,580,000 500,000 580,000 29,387 529,387
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c) The 2013 depreciation deduction is $543,387.
Description Cost Sec. 179
Expense Bonus
MACRS
Basis
Current
MACRS
Expense
Total
Expense
Office Furniture 10,000 - -
Machinery 560,000 70,000 17,143 17,143
Used Delivery Truck 15,000 15,000 4,800 4,800
Computers & Info.
System 40,000 25,000 7,500 7,500 1,500 34,000
Luxury Auto 80,000 8,000 72,000 3,160 11,160
Assembly Equipment 475,000 475,000 - - - 475,000
Storage Building 400,000 400,000 1,284 1,284
Totals 1,580,000 500,000 15,500 564,500 27,887 $ 543,387
d) 2013 cost recovery is $545,443.
Description Cost Sec. 179
Expense
MACRS
Basis
Current
Expense
Total
Expense
Office Furniture 10,000 - - -
Machinery 560,000 70,000 17,143 17,143
Used Delivery Truck 15,000 15,000 4,800 4,800
Computers & Info.
System 40,000 40,000 8,000 8,000
Luxury Auto 80,000 80,000 3,160 3,160
Assembly Equipment 475,000 475,000 - - 475,000
Storage Building 400,000 400,000 1,284 1,284
Inventory 20,000 n/a - -
Office Furniture 30,000 25,000 5,000 715 25,715
Machinery 50,000 50,000 7,145 7,145
Patent 98,000 98,000 2,178 2,178
Goodwill 2,000 2,000 44 44
Building 130,000 130,000 974 974
Land 20,000 n/a - -
Totals 1,930,000 500,000 890,000 45,443 545,443
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e) Complete Part I of Form 4562 for part b.
72. While completing undergraduate school work in information systems, Dallin Bourne
and Michael Banks decided to start a business called ISys Answers which was a
technology support company. During year 1, they bought the following assets and
incurred the following fees at start-up:
Year 1 Assets Purchase Date Basis
Computers (5-year) October 30, Y1 $15,000
Office equipment (7-year) October 30, Y1 $10,000
Furniture (7-year) October 30, Y1 $3,000
Start-up costs October 30, Y1 $17,000
In April of year 2, they decided to purchase a customer list from a company started by
fellow information systems students preparing to graduate who provided virtually the
same services. The customer list cost $10,000 and the sale was completed on April 30th.
During their summer break, Dallin and Michael passed on internship opportunities in an
attempt to really grow their business into something they could do full time after
graduation. In the summer, they purchased a small van (for transportation, not
considered a luxury auto) and a pinball machine (to help attract new employees). They
bought the van on June 15, Y2 for $15,000 and spent $3,000 getting it ready to put into
service. The pinball machine cost $4,000 and was placed in service on July 1, Y2.
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Year 2 Assets Purchase Date Basis
Van June 15, Y2 $18,000
Pinball Machine (7-year) July 1, Y2 $4,000
Customer List April 30, Y2 $10,000
Assume that ISys Answers does not claim any §179 expense or bonus depreciation.
a. What are the maximum cost recovery deductions for ISys Answers for 2012 and
2013?
b. Complete ISys Answers’ form 4562 for 2012.
c. What is ISys Answers’ basis in each of its assets at the end of 2013?
a. ISys Answers’ Y1 cost recovery deductions are $6,414, including the expensing of
the start-up costs. ISys Answers’ Y2 cost recovery deductions are $14,754.
Y1 Cost Recovery
Asset
Original
Basis Expense
Remaining
Basis
Quarter
Rate
Depreciation
Expense
Computer
Equipment $15,000 $15,000 4th 5.00% $750
Office Equipment $10,000 $10,000 4th 3.57% $357
Furniture $3,000 $3,000 4th 3.57% $107
Start-up costs $17,000 $5,000 $12,000
N/A
See
below $200
Start-up immediate
expense $5,000
Total Cost Recovery Expense $6,414
Start-up costs Y1
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Maximum immediate expense $5,000 §195
(2) Total start-up costs $17,000 Given in problem
(3) Phase-out threshold 50,000 §195
(4) Immediate expense phase-out $0 (2) – (3)
(5) Allowable immediate expense $5,000 (1) – (4)
(6) Remaining start-up costs $12,000 (2) – (5)
(7) Recovery period in months 180 15 years §195
(8) Monthly straight-line amortization 66.67 (6) / (7)
(9) ISys’ business months during year 1 x 3 October through
December
Year 1 straight-line amortization for start-
up costs
$200
(8) x (9)
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Y2 Cost Recovery
Asset
Original
Basis Expense
Remaining
Basis
Quarter
Rate
Depreciation
Expense
Computer Equipment $15,000 $15,000 4th 38.00% $5,700
Office Equipment $10,000 $10,000 4th 27.55% $2,755
Furniture $3,000 $3,000 4th 27.55% $827
Start-up costs $17,000 $5,000 $12,000 N/A
$66.67
x 12 $800
Delivery van $18,000 HY 20.00% $3,600
Pinball machine $4,000 HY 14.29% $572
Customer List $10,000 N/A
See
below $500
Total Cost Recovery Expense $14,754
Description Amount Explanation
(1) Customer list (section 197 intangible) $10,000
(2) Recovery period in months 180 Section 197
(3) Monthly straight-line amortization 55.56 (1) / (2)
(4) April through December x 9
Year 1 straight-line amortization for
customer list
$500
(3) x (4)
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b. ISys Answers’ form 4562 is as follows:
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c. ISys Answers’ basis is as follows: Adjusted Basis
Asset
Original
Basis Expense
Year 1
Cost
Recovery
Year 2 Cost
Recovery
2013
Ending
Basis
Computer
Equipment
$15,000 $750 $5,700
$8,550
Office Equipment $10,000 $357 $2,755 $ 6,888
Furniture $3,000 $107 $827 $ 2,066
Start-up costs $17,000 $5,000 $200 $800 $ 11,000
Delivery van $18,000 $3,600 $14,400
Pinball machine $4,000 $572 $3,428
Customer List $10,000 _______ $500 $9,500
Totals $77,000 $11,331 $14,421 $55,832
73. Diamond Mountain was originally thought to be one of the few places in North America
to contain diamonds, so Diamond Mountain Inc. (DM) purchased the land for
$1,000,000. Later, DM discovered that the only diamonds on the mountain had been
planted there and the land was worthless for mining. DM engineers discovered a new
survey technology and discovered a silver deposit estimated at 5,000 pounds on
Diamond Mountain. DM immediately bought new drilling equipment and began mining
the silver.
In years 1-3 following the opening of the mine, DM had net (gross) income of $200,000
($700,000), $400,000 ($1,100,000), and $600,000 ($1,450,000), respectively. Mining
amounts for each year were as follows: 750 pounds (year 1), 1,450 pounds (year 2), and
1,800 pounds (year 3). At the end of year 2, engineers used the new technology (which
had been improving over time) and estimated there was still an estimated 6,000 pounds
of silver deposits.
DM also began a research and experimentation project with the hopes of gaining a
patent for its new survey technology. Diamond Mountain Inc. chooses to capitalize
research and experimentation expenditures and amortize the costs over 60 months or
until it obtains a patent on its technology. In March of year 1, DM spent $95,000 on
research and experimentation. DM spent another $75,000 in February of year 2 for
research and experimentation. In September of year 2, DM paid $20,000 of legal fees
and was granted the patent in October of year 2 (the entire process of obtaining a patent
was unusually fast).
Answer the following questions regarding DM’s activities (assume that DM tries to
maximize its deductions if given a choice).
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a. What is DM’s depletion expense for years 1 - 3?
b. What is DM’s research and experimentation amortization for years 1 and 2?
c. What is DM’s basis in its patent and what is its amortization for the patent in
year 2?
d. DM’s depletion expense is as follows, actual cost and percentage depletion are
shown below:
Actual Depletion
Original basis $ 1,000,000
Year 1 depletion (cost depletion) $ (150,000)
Year 1 Ending basis $ 850,000
Year 2 depletion (cost depletion) $ (165,431)
Year 2 Ending basis $ 684,569
Year 3 depletion (percentage depletion) $ (217,500)
Year 3 Ending basis $ 467,069
Cost Depletion Method
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Year 1 Beginning basis $1,000,000 $850,000 $684,569
Estimated pounds of silver in mine at
beginning of year 5,000 7,450 6,000
Basis depletion per pound $ 200 $ 114.09 $114.09
Pounds of silver mined in year 750 1,450 1,800
Year depletion $150,000 $165,431 $205,362
Basis at end of year $ 850,000 $ 684,569 $ 479,207
Percentage Depletion Method
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Net income $ 200,000 $ 400,000 $ 600,000
Gross income $ 700,000 $1,100,000 $ 1,450,000
Percentage 15% 15% 15%
Percentage depletion expense before
limit
$ 105,000 $ 165,000 $ 217,500
50% of net income limitation $ 100,000 $ 200,000 $ 300,000
Allowable percentage depletion $ 100,000 $ 165,000 $ 217,500
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e. DM’s research and experimentation amortization for years 1 and 2 are as follows:
Description Year 1
Amount
Year 2
Amount
Research and experimental expenses $95,000 $75,000
Recovery period in months 60 60
Monthly straight-line amortization $1,583.33 $1,250
DM’s business months during year 1 10 0
Year 1 straight-line amortization $15,833 $ -
DM's business months during year 2 before the
patent is issued
9 9
Year 2 straight-line amortization $14,250 $11,250
Accumulated amortization through September of
year 2
$30,083 $11,250
Unamortized Research and experimentation $64,917 $63,750 $128,667
c. DM’s basis in its patent and amortization for patent in year 2 are as follows:
Description Amount
Unamortized research and experimental expenses $128,667
Legal expenses related to patent $20,000
Amortizable expenses for patent $148,667
Recovery period in months 204
Monthly straight-line amortization 728.76
DM's business months from October through
December
3
Year 2 straight-line amortization for patent $2,186